Can You Put A Space Heater On Carpet-Safe Options?

Source: DHgate, Tag: Home Garden

Do space heaters come with carpet safe options? Find out the safest ways to keep your home safe when using a space heater.

• Using a space heater in a specific area in your room can be an excellent way to reduce the cost of electric bills, as you will need all the warmth you can get during the winter period. Space heaters come in handy for indoor and outdoor use as they keep you warm for as long as you need to.
  To maximize the warmth from the heater, many people make use of carpet in their homes, hence placing a space heater on their carpet; and they feel it’s completely okay to do so. This behaviour has led to one question: Is it safe to put a space heater on a carpet? Although the Consumer Products Safety Commission recommends that space heaters be placed a minimum of three feet from inflammable objects like;

  1. Furniture

  2. Pillows

  3. Curtains

  4. Clothing

  5. Papers

  6. Rugs

  7. Carpets

  8. Mattresses

  9. Beddings

• The CPSC further recommends that a space heater be placed on a tough and flat surface such as tile for safety. This automatically makes putting a space heater on a carpet a risky act, but there are many people still putting it on the carpet anyways despite the warning.
  This article will discuss how you can use a space heater in a room with carpet and other safety options to consider instead of the initial. But before then, why is it advised not to put a space heater on the carpet.

Why it is not Encouraged to Put a Space Heater on Carpet

• 1. For the safety of your kids: If you live in a home with kids or pets, you need to be concerned about their safety as they won’t be as careful as an adult would.

  2. The area you put the device in may not distribute properly without enough ventilation in the room. This can result in toxins build-ups like carbon monoxide from cooking gas, incense burners, and other sources.

  3. Generally, a space heater is not suitable for homes and cars with wooden floors and poor quality carpets

  4. More often than not, oxygen tanks have exploded if they come in close contact; this is a risk when putting space heaters on the carpet close to oxygen tanks.

  5. If you can, avoid placing a space heater on the carpet, except you are out of options as it increases the risk of a fire.

• Safety precautions when using heaters on carpet

  1. As mentioned earlier, if you have kids or pets around you, keep them away from hot surfaces such as your electric heater.

  2. If your device is an electric corded heater, ensure no air obstruction around the device because any obstruction can lower the ventilation necessary to maintain the temperature in the room.

  3. If you observe that spark or smoke from the vents of your electric heater, switch it off and disconnect instantly. A spark or smoke signifies that the wire or appliance is overheated and can result in fire.

  4. Ensure that you turn off your device when leaving the room, even for 60 seconds. If you are cooking with a stove gas while the device is on, make sure you are off the stovetop if you are stepping out of the area.

  5. While some carpets are made with fire retardant properties, they are not strong enough to combat fires. Ensure that there is enough space between inflammable materials close to where you put your space heater to avoid it getting hot and triggering the fire.

  6. Furthermore, putting a space heater on any surface with inflammable materials like paper and wood can be hazardous due to heat generated from the device; as it can act as fuel for the fire. No matter the surface you are putting your electric heater on, make sure you turn it off when it’s not used.

• If you own a space heater, here are the things you should do and shouldn’t do.
  The important things to know when using a space heater
  Don’t Leave a Space Heater on if not needed
  One way you can ensure safety is never to leave the safe heater on when it’s not needed. If you are rushing out of your room, make sure that it’s turned off, or when there is no one in the room to check it when you are not around. Turning off is not only when you are leaving your home, even if you are going to the restroom to pee or going to your kitchen to get some water; always turn it off when you are leaving the room.
  If you are in the room with your kids or pets, don’t assume that you won’t spend much time in the kitchen and leave them alone with the heater turned on. Don’t let your kids near your unit even when it’s not connected. This is to prevent an electric accident. Also, try not to leave your device working overnight; this might result in overheating and exploding the fuse when you are in the dreamland, leading to fire accidents.
  To avoid this, before going to bed, turn off your heater, or you can buy modern devices with automatic timers. This will help you set the time for your device to turn off when not in use.
  Don’t use Extension Cable
  Instead of using an extension cable to plug your device, plug it directly in the socket; the space heater must have enough space for ventilation. To do him, place the device a few meters away from the wall where the mouth is located, and place the heater in a less crowded or stuffy corner.
  Also, avoid plugging other devices in the same socket to prevent overload or overheating. Please don’t place the cable under furniture such as cabinet or couch, including putting it in a rug. This is to prevent anyone from stumbling or tripping over the wires so it won’t lead to a fire accident.
  Keep your heater away from Moisture
  Keep your space heater from humid areas or water. For example, your bathroom is one of the coldest areas in your home; taking your bath can be uninspiring due to the cold. The first thing that comes to your mind is to place a space heater in the bathroom to warm the place up, but water and electricity can result in an unpleasant outcome. As an electric heater, placing a space heater close to a water source or moist and confined space is highly risky. Except your device is built to manage a case like this, although some devices are built that way, it’s highly unsafe to couple a heater in your bathroom.
  Instead of using an electric heater to warm your bathroom, set your shower on hottest before stepping into the bathroom.
  How to use Space Heaters in Rooms with Carpets
  It is risky to place a space heater on a carpet directly, but many people still do this with the thought of being careful not to step on it or do anything to cause them harm. While it’s our job to tell you that this action is risky, this is why we are providing you with safe options and how to use the heater in a carpeted room.

  1. When purchasing a space heater, make sure that you buy one that is designed for a carpeted room.

  2. When you need to turn your device on, put the heating channel on a mat under the carpet.

  3. Ensure that you do not expose your electric cables close to curtains to prevent them from triggering an electric spark.

  4. Make it your duty to inform your kids if there is any to stay away from the area. Preferably, keep your kids or pet away from the electric cords.

  5. Disconnect any fire source like candles, burners, and other electronic appliances before setting up the heater. Remember that you can only plug your space heater into a power channel without using an extension cable. Confirm that there are no badly connected or frayed wires that can result to fire once the temperature gets high.

  6. If the only available option is to place your space heater power source on a carpet, ensure that you move furniture close by a little further to help with sufficient ventilation within your space.

If space heaters are not to be placed on carpet, furniture, curtains, among other places, where they are the right places to put a heater.
Where to place your space heater
Ensure that your heater is not facing an open door; placing them towards the wall or corner is ideal. If you must place it on a carpet, make sure it is in a position where the incidence of an accident is low. For example, make sure that your heater is in a cool and dry place and away from direct sunlight or heat. Your device is very fragile, and when it’s placed in an area accessible to sunlight, it can trigger a fire outbreak.
Also, make sure that you put it in a place where everyone cannot access it or is likely to cause an accident.
Frequently asked questions on space heaters
Can a fan heater be put on the carpet?
The fan heater is another great intuition to combat the heating experienced with the device. It is an excellent device to use during winter to warm up the room on time before it starts getting hot. You will need to put it close to a channel and plug it into the power source to use this device. Where to put your fan space heater depends on your choice. But always put safety in mind and necessary precautions when you make your decision.
Are space heaters wasteful?
No, space heaters are not wasteful. They are actually efficient and vital devices everyone should own either in their home or vehicle to warm them up during the winter season. Extreme cold can be challenging to most people’s health, which ends up affecting their productivity. But with this electric heater, you can warm up your home and have a nice and peaceful sleep.
Are electric space heaters toxic?
No, electric space heaters are not toxic; the condition and activities in your home are responsible for toxins build-up and are released into the room. For example, suppose you are cooking, and the ventilation in your room is poor. In that case, it will result in polluted air and cooking gas combined, leading to toxic release that can become harmful to everyone in the room.
Is it economical to turn on the heating system or use a space heater?
Using the heating system is not economical or cheaper compared to using a space heater. In fact, the electric space heater saves or reduces the cost of your electric bills compared to the cost you will incur from using the heating system. There are different models of space heaters you can purchase that are fast warming without heating up. Although the space heaters are designed to warm up smaller rooms or space in a home, using them saves you from incurring high bills on electricity.

Conclusion
Space heaters are an effective and cost-effective device to heat your room. While many people are comfortable placing the device on their carpets, it should be discouraged because the risk involved is greater than the benefits. Electric heaters are prone to overheating and can quickly lead to fire outbreaks, though more modern devices can now warm up quickly to prevent overheating, which shouldn’t make anyone settle for putting the electric heater on the carpet.
A space heater is a great way to keep your home warm during winter. But is it safe to keep space heaters on overnight?