Portable heater safety
Portable heaters can be a useful and cost-effective way to heat smaller spaces in your home when you don’t need to heat the whole house. Unfortunately, some heaters can cause a serious fire hazard, especially when used incorrectly.
Over the festive period, when there may be more combustible materials like cardboard and paper lying around, please follow these tips to keep everyone in your home safe.
You should always:
- use your heater on a flat surface
- Check the heaters and their cables are not creating a trip hazard
- Keep your heater(s) at least one metre away from anything flammable
- Buy heaters brand new from a trustworthy retailer, and ideally look for one with a trip switch that will shut off when tipped over
- Register your heater as soon as you purchase it, so you’ll be made aware of any product recalls or safety information that might get released later:
https://www.registermyappliance.org.uk/ - Consider using oil-filled radiators as a safer alternative to other mobile heaters.
You should never:
- use any heaters that are old, faulty, or have broken or damaged wiring
- use your heater to dry your washing
- cover your heater (it needs space).
For more fire safety advice and support in your area, please contact your local fire service:
Merseyside
Home | Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service
Lancashire
Official Website of LFRS | Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service
Greater Manchester
GMFRS – Greater Manchester Fire Rescue Service