Winter is coming, and it’s time to prime your home’s heating systems. Especially in an area where temperatures can get very cold, it is almost unlikely that people will go home without having to turn on the heat. In Pakistan, the majority of households still use gas heaters while others have switched to an electric home heating system, which is a relatively new technology. Regardless of your choice of home heating system, using it with caution can prevent fatal accidents. So, to help you enjoy a warm and safe winter, we have put together a list of important safety tips for using heaters in this blog.

Some important safety tips for using heaters
Here are some of the precautionary measures you need to take to keep your home warm and safe during the winter.

Perform a safety pre-check on your heater
Check the electricity / gas supply
Keep your children away from radiators
Avoid running heaters in your home unattended
Place the radiator near the fire alarm
Let’s discuss these home heating safety tips in detail.

Run a safety pre-check on your heater
Are you using your heating for the first time in months? Many of us turn it on without thinking about it again, which can be dangerous. Alternatively, there are a few things you should check the heating equipment before using it again. If it is a gas heater, make sure gas is not leaking from anywhere. For electric heaters, check all electrical connections, just to make sure you are not exposed to a safety hazard.

In addition, dust usually settles on the heating component when not in use. Therefore, when ignited, the deposited dust also begins to burn, leaving an unpleasant odor inside. To avoid such situation, try to make the heater dust free before using it. Bringing in the professionals for a thorough check-up of your heaters may be in your best interest.

Pro tip: Turning on your heating at least once a year is one of the essential home heating safety tips.

Check the electricity / gas supply
Check your appliance and connection before setting up your home heating system
Have the electricity and gas supply checked by a professional
One of the basic safety tips for using heaters in your home is to check if they are properly supplied with electricity / gas. The best way to do this is to check your device’s meter. If a problem is found, notify the utility provider in advance and resolve the issue.

Note: Broken or damaged electrical wiring and gas lines can be disastrous, especially when your furnace is on.

Keep your children away from radiators
Do you have children at home? Do you want them to feel warm and comfortable when they are at home all winter? The safest way to do this is to keep children away from heaters, especially when they are on. Children have curious minds and they usually explore and play with things that are new to them. However, you will never want your little ones to play with the fireplace. In most homes, fireplaces are placed in the living room or bedroom and are easily accessible to children. In such cases, do not leave your children unattended, especially when the home heating system is on.

Pro Tip: Ideally, you should have at least 3 feet of “Kids Free Zone” around the heater in your home.

Avoid turning on the heating in your home without supervision
Running your home heating system unattended can be disastrous
Don’t leave your home heating system running overnight or unattended.
Running a heater unattended or overnight while you sleep can be fatal. What if the radiator catches fire? Or the gas heater burner goes out due to an excessive amount of gas filling the air. These types of accidents can be fatal, which means that one of the main safety tips for using heaters is not to leave them overnight or unattended.

Place the radiator near the fire alarm
Fires can happen anywhere, but they can be avoided if you take the necessary precautions. What could be better than installing a fire alarm in your home? It would be in your best interest to have a fire alarm and home heating equipment in the same room. The fire alarm goes off and alerts people in time if it detects fire and other smoke components in the air.

Safety Tip: If a fire breaks out in your home’s heating system, try to put it out first. If you can’t do this, open doors and windows and leave the area immediately.

Here are some tips on using space heaters to keep your home warm during the winter.