Once the furnace kicks on for the season, many Dearborn homes add a space heater to a chilly basement, bedroom or home office. Heaters are useful, but they are also one of the leading causes of home heating fires. A few simple rules make a big difference.
The three-foot rule
Keep at least three feet of clear space around any heater: no curtains, bedding, papers or laundry piles. Choose a model with tip-over protection like our Portable Electric Heater, and plug it straight into a wall outlet, never an extension cord.
Our checklist
- Turn heaters off when you leave the room or go to sleep
- Keep kids and pets away from the front of the heater
- Test smoke and CO alarms monthly
- Keep a fire blanket within reach of the kitchen
- Check cords and plugs for heat or damage
Alarms are not optional
Gas furnaces, water heaters and attached garages all make carbon monoxide a real risk in Michigan homes. A combined Smoke & CO Alarm on every level covers both dangers. For older homes, the Ting sensor watches your wiring for early signs of electrical trouble.
None of this takes long. Ten minutes at the start of the season is time well spent.
Written by the team at Trust Purchase Shop, Dearborn, Michigan.