22 | June• 2018
HOMEPHOTOS: ISTOCKcompounded if you plug the heater
into the wrong outlet.
Plugging a room heater into a
power board is never a good idea.
Power boards simply aren’t designed
to handle the energy load required of
a heater. Power boards are designed
for low-power items, such as
televisions, DVD players and stereos.
As radiant room heaters require so
much start-up energy and also heat
up quickly, if used for a prolonged
time, the heat can transfer back
along the power cord and into the
power board, causing it to overheat.
Manufacturers recommend plugging
room heaters directly into the
wall socket.
And, as a general rule,
for any appliance that
needs to stay plugged
in for a long period,
always use a board
that has a surge
protector.ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES and
electrical faults are a major cause of
house ires. Other ires are started by
faults in appliance cords, receptacles
and switches. Never use an appliance
with a worn cord which can send heat
onto combustible surfaces like loors,
curtains and rugs that can start a ire.
A compact electric heater is
convenient and cost-efective,
because it directs heat to a speciic
location. But it is also potentially
dangerous because of the ires it can
cause. he high temperatures of these
heaters create a ire risk. Many ires
start because the heater is sitting
within one metre of bedding or
lammable furnishings that
get too hot and catch ire.
Keep children and pets
away from heaters, and
place the heater on a
hard, nonlammable
surface.
he ire risk can be
Fire Safety Tips
BY MARISSA LALIBERTELittle heaters can pose a major house fire risk