Fire Pits & Heaters

Place your space heater on the floor on a flat, hard surface. This location should be at least three feet away from flammable materials, such as bedding and curtains. 

You should also put the space heater in a low-traffic area where it won't get knocked over accidentally. To increase safety, create a three-foot buffer around the heater that prevents children and pets from touching it. 

Additionally, place your space heater close to an electrical outlet so you can easily plug it in. To prevent overheating, don't plug anything else into the outlet when the heater is in use. 

Finally, avoid placing the space heater in a garage, shed, or workshop. These areas often contain combustible materials such as cleaning materials, gas cans, and paints.

There are five main types of space heaters: 

Ceramic heaters: These heaters use electricity to heat metal coils and blow warm air. They are compact and easy to move between rooms. However, they work best in small spaces and dry out the air. 

Convection heaters: These use heating elements and air circulation to produce warmth. They effectively heat large spaces and typically operate quietly. 

Infrared heaters: These use electromagnetic radiation to produce and emit heat. They’re energy efficient and warm spaces rapidly without noisy fans. They work best for heating nearby people and objects, not whole rooms.  

Radiator heaters: These use electricity to heat oil inside sealed tubes. They’re quiet and efficient but get hot to the touch, so it's important to be careful as they may cause burns. 

Combination heaters: These use two or more heating techniques, so they're more flexible and versatile than heaters that rely on a single technology. For example, they can combine infrared heating with convection fans.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends placing a space heater at least three feet away from curtains, furniture, papers, and other flammable materials. 

It's also essential to choose a space heater designed for your room size. Experts advise using 10 watts per square foot. That means a 10x10 room will need a space heater with at least 1,000 watts.