Here Are 13 Tips to Keep Your Family Safe From Fires Caused by Heaters This Winter

Suddenly, after all the heat waves this summer, there’s a nip in the air all around the San Francisco Bay Area. Nighttime temperatures are dropping into the 40s and 50s, while daytime temperatures are staying in the 50s and 60s, so it’s the perfect time to share some DeLonghi heater safety tips.

And that means that you’ll soon be turning up your heat to stay warm in your home or your office. Many people rely on space heaters to warm up a specific area instead of all the rooms of where you work or live.

Whether you own a DeLonghi Oil-Filled Heater or another brand of space heater, here are some general winter safety tips you need to be aware of, especially if you’re a parent of a small child.

• Heaters Safety Tip #1: Follow the three-foot rule. Remember to keep your heater at least three feet from any combustible materials, such as beds, sofas, curtains, paper, clothes, pets, and more.
• Heaters Safety Tip #2: Inspect the cords. Look carefully at your power cord for your heater to make sure it’s not damaged or frayed. A cord that’s unraveling could catch fire or cause a spark.
• Heaters Safety Tip #3: Make sure the plug is snug. Securely plug your space heater into a power outlet so that it can’t fall out or come loose.
• Heaters Safety Tip #4: Make sure it’s stable and level. Never put a space heater on a surface that is uneven, on a slanted area, or on a table. If it’s on a stable, level surface, there’s a minimal risk that it can be knocked over and start a fire.
• Heaters Safety Tip #5: Make sure it’s safety certified. Look for the UL label on the back, which means that your heater is certified safe to use.
• Heater Safety Tip #6: Make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working. And change their batteries twice a year for both.
• Heaters Safety Tip #7: Turn it off when not in use. If you go to sleep, take a nap, or leave the room for an extended period of time, be sure to turn off your space heater to save energy and money.
• Heaters Safety Tip #8: Train and teach everyone how to use your heater. A few minutes of showing someone how to properly use your space heater can make a big difference for home safety.
• Heaters Safety Tip #9: Use the right fuel for your heater. If your space heater runs on oil or propane, double check to make sure you’re using the particular fuel it is supposed to use, or you may cause a fire.
• Heaters Safety Tip #10: Don’t let small children operate a space heater. They should always be in the room with an adult who can turn it on or off.
• Heaters Safety Tip #11: Don’t put power cords under rugs. This is just an accident waiting to happen as someone can trip over the cords, which can move the heater or knock it down.
• Heaters Safety Tip #12: Don’t use around water. Kids may not know that heaters can cause shocks if they’re near water or in damp conditions like a leaky window when it’s raining. So play it safe.
• Heaters Safety Tip #13: Don’t use a heater with an extension cord or power strip. This can cause overheating and spark a fire. 

Have You Heard About The Delongi Heater Replacement Program?
If you happen to have a DeLonghi oil-filled heater that was manufactured between 1980 and 1988, you’re invited to participate in the heater replacement program by calling 1-800-322-3848.

When you call, they’ll tell you to cut the power cord of your defective DeLonghi heater, mail it back to DeLonghi American, and they’ll send you a new heater to replace the potentially dangerous portable electric radiator you may have.