Consumers in most parts of the world rely on space heaters and furnaces to heat their homes or to take the chill out of a cold morning. Many homeowners fail to follow the instructions or safety rules of their heaters. They forget for a moment that death and serious injuries, including burns and carbon monoxide poisoning, affect thousands of Americans each year.
The CPSC estimates that electric space heaters are a contributing cause of 2,400 fires each year. These fires cause an average of 80 deaths, 240 injuries, and .2 million in property loss on an annual basis. In 2003, there were 10,900 residential fires and close to 200 deaths associated with portable or fixed local heaters.
The CPSC recommends a number of things when dealing with furnaces or space heaters:
1. Any individual should hire a professional inspector every year to evaluate the safety of home furnaces, heaters, and any other carbon monoxide emitting appliances.
2. Heaters need to be placed away from flammable items, water sources, and not in high traffic zones.
3. Whenever buying a new space heater, it is important to choose one that has been tested to the latest safety standards and certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. These heaters will have the most up-to-date safety features while older space heaters might not meet the newest safety standards. The CPSC has worked to upgrade industry standards for electric, kerosene, vented and unvented gas space heaters.
4. Choose a space heater with a guard around the flame area or heating element. The heater should be on a level, hard, nonflammable surface. There should not be rugs, carpets, bedding, or drapes
5. Doors in rooms with space heaters should be kept open if an unvented fuel-burning space heater. This prevents pollutant build-up and promotes proper combustion.
6. Never leave a space heater on while going to bed or place it near a sleeping person.
One of the biggest safety features that is now required on a heating device is an automatic cut-off device. These are required to turn off electric or kerosene heaters if they tip over. More guarding around the heating coils of electric heaters and the burner of kerosene heaters also is required to prevent fires. The CPSC worked to upgrade the industry standard for unvented gas heaters to provide an oxygen depletion sensor. This sensor is responsible for cutting off the heater if the oxygen level drops too low.
For more information on the dangers of heaters and other household appliance please visit http://www.burnvictiminjurylawyers.com
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