Requirements to Follow When Using a Portable Space Heater

A portable space heater is a potential source of fire when not properly and safely used. The applicable code requirements, manufacturer’s recommendation, and the requirements listed below must be followed strictly to keep the environment safe:

o All portable heaters must be Factory Mutual approved or Underwriters Listed (UL) for intended use.
o The portable space heater must come with a thermostat to shut down the unit automatically when the temperature desired is achieved.
o The portable space heater must be placed at least three feet or 36 inches away from combustible materials such as desks, file cabinets, paper boxes, trash cans, etc.
While portable space heaters are designed for safe use, the overall safety associated with using a portable space heater still depends mainly on the user.

Safety Tips to Follow when Using a Portable Space Heater

When using portable space heaters, there is a need to always follow the safety tips below:

o Do not place your portable space heater on enclosed areas such as under the desk.
o Portable space heater must be monitored closely when in operation.
o Plug your portable space heater into a wall receptacle directly. Never ever plug it in an extension cord.
o You should monitor your portable space heater daily. Portable space heaters with missing control knobs, guards, feet, etc. must be immediately taken out of service and must be repaired by a qualified person.
o Do not use your portable space heater in rooms that will not be occupied continually.
Keep windows and doors closed, including your storm windows. This will lessen the risk of freeze-ups.

The Proper and Safe Use of Portable Space Heaters

For proper and safe use of portable space heaters, never use the unit in wet or even in moist places such as bathrooms unless the type of portable space heater is designed and certified mainly for that purpose. You should also not hide the cords of your portable space heaters under carpets or rugs, because there is a risk for fire in case the cord of the portable space heater overheats. This should also be done whenever your portable space heater should be plugged into an outlet protected by a GFCI or a ground fault circuit interrupter. If the portable space heater trips the GFCI repeatedly, you should have a qualified service center check it before you place it back in use.

The Proper Location of your Portable Space Heaters

Portable space heaters are often approved for use by the property management. The portable space heater should be fully equipped with safety features including element guards, safety cut off switches, as well as on/off indicator lights. The portable space heater should be placed at least 3 feet from the combustibles present in the space. It should be placed on the floor and must not be placed on any furniture where it may fall, causing possible breakage or damage to the components of the portable space heater. It is better to follow and adhere strictly to the manufacturer’s instructions and operator’s manual when placing and locating a portable space heater into service. You should not try to replace the parts or even repair the portable electric space heater.

The Proper and Safe Use of Portable Space Heaters

Users must adhere strictly to all the manufacturer’s instructions for proper and safe use of portable space heaters along with the required preventative and operational maintenance. Users must read these instructions fully and must become completely familiar with the instruction booklet to acquire the necessary knowledge of how to use portable space heaters properly and safely.

Extension cords must never be used with portable space heaters. Moreover, for portable space heaters utilizing electricity to operate should be plugged into the electrical outlet directly. If the extension cord must be utilized for the portable space heater, it is better to consult first the operator’s manual or the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure that the size and wire gauge for the portable space heater is correct.

The Efficiency of Portable Space Heaters

In many places, fossil fuels are often burned in order to produce heat, which in turn is utilized to boil water or create steam to turn turbines that turn generators to produce electricity. The efficiency of this process ranges from 20 to 60% while the other 5 to 15% is wasted due to transmission, depending mainly on how far the user is from the power plant. Portable space heaters on the other hand use the heat produced from combustion to heat the space directly through convection, which is way more efficient and cheaper than electric heating. In combined CHP (combined heat and power) plants, the energy lost in power plants driven by turbine is used for district heating. According to some research, the total energy efficiency of portable space heaters approaches 100%.

The Two Types of Portable Space Heaters

Portable space heaters generally belong to one of the two types of space heaters: infrared or radiant portable space heaters or circulation type portable space heaters. Infrared or radiant portable space heaters function mainly to heat objects, which will in turn heat the surrounding air. The circulation type portable space heaters on the other hand directly heat the air using convection or fan. Moreover, portable space heaters may either be vented or unvented. Unvented portable space heaters are described as low-capacity space heaters used to heat only the living areas but they are not allowed to heat bathrooms, bedrooms, or other confined spaces because of the risk of fire and accumulation of the flue gases at high degrees or levels.