This list is for anyone about to plug in a portable heater for the winter, whether it came out of the box this week or out of the closet where it has sat since March. Go through it once before the first cold night, and again whenever the heater moves to a new room.
Most of it comes down to two rules the National Fire Protection Association repeats every winter. Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from the heater, and plug an electric heater straight into a wall outlet, never into an extension cord or a power strip. A heater draws far more current than a lamp or a phone charger, and a thin cord or a power strip can overheat under that load.
After the heater has run for an hour, touch the plug. If it feels hot, turn the heater off and have the outlet looked at before you use it again.
- Check for a safety certification label — Look for a mark from a recognized testing lab, such as UL, ETL or CSA, on the heater or its box.
- Confirm it has a tip-over switch and overheat shut-off — If an older heater is missing either one, replacing it is the safer choice.
- Read the manual's warnings, or download a copy if it is lost
- Vacuum the dust off the grille and vents
- Inspect the cord and plug for cracks, fraying or scorch marks — A damaged cord means the heater is done. Do not tape it up.
- Pick a spot on a flat, hard floor — Keep it off rugs and carpet, and off tables, chairs and shelves.
- Clear 3 feet on every side — That means curtains, bedding, sofas, paper, clothes and anything else that can burn.
- Keep it out of walkways and doorways
- Plug it directly into a wall outlet — No extension cords and no power strips.
- Leave the cord out in the open, not under a rug
- Avoid running another big appliance on the same outlet
- Use it in a bathroom only if the manual says it is made for one
- Set a 3 foot no-go zone for children and pets
- Never dry clothes or towels on the heater
- Turn it off when you leave the room or go to sleep
- Touch the plug after an hour of running — If the plug or outlet is hot, stop using the heater until the outlet is checked.
- For a kerosene or propane heater, check that local rules allow it indoors — Some cities and states restrict unvented fuel-burning heaters.
- Use only the fuel the maker names
- Refuel outdoors, after the heater has cooled
- Follow the manual's ventilation instructions
- Never bring a heater marked for outdoor use inside — That includes patio heaters, and any camping heater whose label says outdoor use only.
- Install a carbon monoxide alarm if any heater or appliance in the home burns fuel
- Test the smoke alarms on every floor and outside the bedrooms
- Never heat the home with an oven or a gas stove
- Store the heater dry and covered when winter ends