When it comes to the winter months, temps get pretty cold. It’s the time of the season to break out a whole new wardrobe, one significantly warmer and with more layers than your fall one. Now is the time for scarves, hats, gloves, mittens, and sweaters.
You may also find that this is the time to find your portable heater and get it going for some added warmth this winter. Maintaining your portable heater this season will help you keep things safe while ensuring that your heater is working to the best of its ability. Here’s how to check out your heater and make sure that it works great this winter.
Be Sure to Check Your Heater Before Using
It’d be nice if your heater ran well right from the start, but you’re going to have to check and make sure. Don’t just plug it in and use it right away, trusting blindly that it will all work out. Consider where you have stored your heater.
Did you store your heater in your attic, or the basement or garage? Was it somewhere that had temperature control, or naturally colder conditions? Was it left on its own or knocked around? Being knocked around could have resulted in damage to your heater’s internal components.
Check your heater over to make sure that it seems intact before automatically plugging it in and using it. Make sure that there are no dents or markings on it. Examine the power cord and plug to make sure that they are intact and without damage (rodents and other little creatures could have gnawed on the wires).
Check the switch and give it a test run, making sure that your heater has a switch that is working correctly. In general, give your heater a thorough examination to make sure that there is no damage done and that it’s essentially in the shape that you want it to be. That way, you can be confident using it later on instead of blindly using it and experiencing issues.
Check the Power Cord
Space heaters run off power. It’s that electricity and being plugged in that helps it to generate that radiant heat that keeps us warm. The power supply is what makes that work, which is why it is one of the most important parts of this type of machine. It’s particularly important to inspect the machine and make sure that the cord is free from damage.
If a cord is damaged and it is used, the space heater could have some serious issues. This could even lead to sparking or a fire. So, it’s important to visually inspect the power cord and make sure that it is 100% intact before attempting to use it. Even if you do have damage to your power cord, it isn’t the end of the world. You can get the cord serviced by a professional and have it fixed. Just don’t go ahead and use a heater with a damaged cord and plug it into the outlet without expecting repercussions. Also, if you observe that the outlet or cable is getting too hot, shut off the heater as soon as possible.
Maintaining a Heater in Winter
Some of these are obvious, while others may be new to you. Be sure to avoid running the power cord under rugs or anything else to avoid causing damage to the cord and also avoiding causing a fire hazard.
You also want to be sure to check around your heater to make sure that it has enough space and nothing is touching it. That same warmth the heater puts out can easily start a fire with anything from blankets to furniture. Never put flammable liquids close to a heater, ether!
The best way to place a heater is away from the walls in the middle of an open room or a hallway where nothing is touching it to get maximum results with maximum safety.
Always Be Around When the Heater is Running
If your heater is on, make sure that you’re there too. Always turn a heater off when leaving the room or the house. Leaving a heater on when you’re not around is asking for a fire to start. So be sure to turn off and unplug, and if the heater is running, make sure that you’re around too. Don’t just assume a safety malfunction won’t happen or everything will be fine! Make sure you are there when your heater is in use and you can rest easy knowing you’re being as safe as possible and not at risk for a fire.
