Every home needs fans and heaters to keep up with changing seasons to ensure comfort from the scorching heat and biting cold.
While essential, they also pose certain safety risks if precautions aren’t taken. However, that doesn’t imply you should stop using them. Instead, embrace these effective safety tips and stay safe!
1. Invest in the right appliance
The first and foremost safety measure is to buy the right appliance according to your needs. Understand that all models are not made for the same purpose.
Fans
Consider the size of the room and the area needing cooling. Ceiling fans are suitable for larger rooms. If the space is small, buy a table or pedestal fan with a sturdy and stable base. The fan blades must also be strong.
Heaters
Buy room heaters from renowned brands with whole-room heat circulation technology. This will ensure that you’ll feel warm and cosy despite the room size and where you sit.
The heater must also have built-in safety features, including a cool exterior, overheat protection, automatic shut-off when the heater tips over, overheat sensors, and fine grills to prevent access to the insides.
2. Correctly position your appliances
Where you place fans and heaters also plays a significant role in safety. Avoid accidents and fire hazards in these ways:
Fans
Secure ceiling fans to the ceiling with a sturdy hook. Nothing must be near the blades. Place table or pedestal fans on a flat surface to prevent them from falling over. Keep them away from moisture zones, such as humidifiers, bathtubs, and sinks.
Further, if you have children or pets, place fans on high surfaces or somewhere they can’t reach. Always ensure the fan grill is properly secured to prevent your pets/children from accessing the blades.
Heaters
Place heaters at least 3 feet away from walls, furniture, curtains, any kind of upholstery, and flammable materials to prevent fires. Don’t place them in high-traffic zones. Otherwise, they might get knocked over and cause a fire.
If there are kids and pets, be present in the room and stay aware as long as your heater is on. Install a barrier around the heater or mount it over a nonflammable surface to make it inaccessible.
3. Be cautious using power strips and extension cords
In New South Wales alone, 40% of house fires, or 1800 house fires, are caused annually due to electrical faults. So, you need to be even more cautious when using power strips and extension cords, which are notorious for causing electrical fires!
Fans
While it’s best to plug in fans to wall outlets, you can use heavy-duty power strips and extension cords that match the fan wattage or amperage.
However, to prevent potential fires, don’t link multiple power strips/extension cords together (aka daisy-chain) or overload them.
Heaters
Plug your heaters directly into wall outlets that can handle high wattage. Avoid using extension cords or power strips. They may overheat and cause fires.
4. Know when to turn off the appliances
Another safety tip involves turning off your appliances when not needed or attended to.
Fans
Turn off the fans when you leave the room. While this is more important for table and pedestal fans, follow the same for ceiling fans and save electricity and extend the fan’s lifespan. If you want to sleep with a table/pedestal fan on, ensure your pets and children are secure.
Heaters
The rule is stricter for heaters. Never leave the room or go to sleep with a heater on. Whether you’ll return shortly after doing an errand or want a cosy warm nap, a moment’s inattention can lead to a serious fire. So, always turn it off and unplug the appliance for security.
5. Perform regular inspection
If there are malfunctions in your appliances, that can also lead to unexpected fires. Conduct routine inspection and maintenance to ensure both fans and heaters are safe to operate.
Fans
Clean accumulated dust and debris from fan blades, motors, and grills. This causes motor overheating and slows down the fan.
Heaters
To prevent overheating, remove dust and dirt from heaters before every use. Check the manufacturer’s instructions, get a professional inspection, and clean or replace filters (if any).
For both, check for wear and tear signs in cords and plugs and replace them as needed.
Conclusion
Besides these, ensure all family members are aware of the potential risks of these appliances. Be strict with children so they don’t play with them. With these basic precautions, you’ll ensure a safe, happy, and thriving family throughout the seasons!
