Buy only heaters with the Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL)
safety listing. Check to make sure it has a thermostat
control mechanism, and will switch off automatically if the
heater falls over. Heaters are not dryers or tables; don’t
put clothes or store objects on top of your heater. Space
heaters need space; keep combustibles at least three feet
away from each heaters. Always unplug your electric space
heater when not in use
The use of portable heaters requires an even greater
commitment to safety requirements. Because the heaters are
portable, great care must be taken to ensure that they do
not block the exit from a room or come in contract with
something that will burn.
Keep young children away from space heaters. Pajamas,
nightgowns or other loose fitting clothing can easily
ignite.
When plugging in electric heaters, make sure that the outlet
was designed to handle the load. Be safe; do not plug
anything else into the socket with the heater.
If you have an electric space heater, check each season for
fraying or splitting wires and overheating. Have all
problems repaired by a professional before operating the
space heater.
Safe Use & Selection of Kerosene
Heaters
If You Have a Fire:
- Sound the alarm. Get everyone out of the house. Call
the fire department from a neighbor’s house. Never try
to go back into a burning home for any reason.
- Fighting the fire yourself is dangerous. Fire deaths
involving kerosene heaters have occurred because someone
tried to fight the fire or tried to move a burning
heater outside.
- The safest way to fight a fire is to call the fire
department, without delay.
- Did you know that smoke detectors and a home fire
escape plan more than double your family’s chances of
escaping a nighttime fire alive?
- Smoke detectors properly installed and tested at
least monthly and a practiced home fire escape plan are
a small price to pay for a second chance to escape a
nighttime fire.
Care of the Wick is Critical
Some insurance companies have reported an increase in claims
for smoke-damaged furniture, clothing, and other household
goods caused by improper care of kerosene heater wicks.
Portable kerosene heaters have either a wick make of
fiberglass or cotton. The most important things to remember
about the wick are:
- Fiberglass and cotton wicks are not interchangeable.
Replace your wick only with the exact type recommended
by the manufacturer.
- Fiberglass wicks are maintained by a process known
as “clean burning” to “clean burn”, take the heater to a
well-ventilated place outside of the living area, turn
the heater on and allow it to run completely out of
fuel. After the heater cools, brush any remaining carbon
deposits from the wick. Following “clean burning”, the
fiber glass wick should feel soft.
NEVER TRIM A FIBERGLASS WICK AND NEVER “CLEAN BURN” A
COTTON WICK. For more information on wick maintenance,
consult your owner’s manual or your dealer.
Rising Heating Bills
Rising heating bills continued to be a source of frustration
and sometimes, hardship for many Ohioans. In an effort to
resolve that problem, more and more consumers are turning to
alternative heating methods such as wood burning stoves,
electric space heaters, and kerosene heaters. The fatter has
especially been the popular choice of urban dwellers. Even
though kerosene heaters have been around for many years, the
latest models are more economical, portable, and safer to
use than ever before. Despite these superior improvements,
fires in Ohio blamed on kerosene heaters continue to
increase. Most of these blazes were the result of improper
use of the heater by the consumer. This guide attempts to
instruct kerosene heater owners on the proper way to operate
the device, what type of fuel should be used and what
features to look for when shopping for a kerosene heater.
When Selecting A Kerosene Heater,
Consider:
- Heat output. No heater will heat the whole house.
One or two rooms is a good rule of thumb. Read the
heater’s labeling carefully for BTU produced.
- Safety listing. Has the heater been tested by one of
the major safety laboratories such as UL for
construction and safety features?
- New/used heaters. Second hand, used, or repaired
heaters may be bad investments and a fire hazard. When
buying a used or reconditioned heater, that purchase
should be accompanied by the owner’s manual or operating
instructions. Other points to consider would be:
checking the condition of the tip-over switch, fuel
gauge, ignition system, fuel tank, and the condition of
the grill surrounding the heating element. Also look for
the label from a major safety laboratory (UL).
- Safety features. Does the heater have its own
igniter or do you use matches? The heater must be
equipped with an automatic shutoff. Ask the dealer to
demonstrate its function should the heater be knocked
over.
Proper Use of A Kerosene Heater
Follow the manufacturer’s directions, in particular those
describing ventilation of the heater. To ensure adequate
ventilation, have a window ajar or leave a door open to an
adjoining room to provide an exchange of air. Heaters should
never be left burning overnight or while sleeping.
There is a potential for adverse health effects caused by
pollutants produced by unvented space heaters. If dizziness,
drowsiness, chest pain, fainting, or respiratory irritation
occurs, shut off the heater at once and move the affected
person to fresh air.
Place a heater no closer than three feet to combustible
materials such as drapes, furniture, or wall coverings. Keep
doorways and halls clear. In case of fire, a heater should
not be blocking your escape.
Keep children away from the heater while it is operating to
prevent contact burns. Some heater surfaces can research
temperatures of several hundred degrees Fahrenheit under
normal operating conditions.
Refueling the Heater
Careless refueling is another cause of kerosene heater
fires. Owners pour kerosene into hot, sometimes still
burning heaters and a fire starts. To prevent a refueling
fire and needless injury:
- Refuel the heater outdoors, only after it has
cooled.
- Refuel the heater to only 90% full.
Once indoors where it is warm, the kerosene will expand.
Checking the fuel gauge during refilling will help keep you
from overfilling the heater’s fuel storage tank.
Buying the Correct Fuel and Storing it
Safely
Your heater is designed to burn high quality crystal clear
1-K kerosene. The use of any other fuel, including gasoline
and camping fuel, can lead to a serious fire. The proper
fuel, crystal clear 1-K kerosene, will be crystal clear. Do
not use discolored fuel. Kerosene has a distinct odor that
is different from the odor of gasoline. If your fuel smells
like gasoline do not use it.
The leading cause of kerosene heater fires in Ohio is a
result of accidentally contaminating the kerosene fuel with
gasoline. To avoid the serious consequences of fuel
contamination, follow these recommendations:
- Keep 1-K kerosene only in a container clearly marked
KEROSENE. The container should be a distinctive blue or
white color to distinguish it from the familiar red
gasoline can.
- Never put heater fuel in a container that has been
used for gasoline or any other liquid.
- Never lend your container to anyone who may use it
for anything other than 1-K kerosene.
- Instruct anyone buying fuel for you that only 1-K
kerosene is to be put in the container.
- Watch you container being filled, the pump should be
marked kerosene. If there is any doubt, ask the
attendant.
Once you have the correct fuel it must be stored safely.
Store your fuel in a cool dry place, out of the reach of
children. Do not store it inside or near a heat source.
http://firesafety.buffnet.net/winter.htm
