WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - With the colder weather many of you at home are probably turning on your heat or space heaters for the first time this season.
This is the time of year when we typically see quite a few house fires due to causes like tipping over a space heater or leaving it on while you’re away from home, but it’s something that can be prevented. Heating Element Manufacturer
“Obviously with this time of year, we’re going to have uptick in a lot of these heat related calls, whether it be space heaters, or HVAC systems, which is why we want to make sure that we pay attention to those basic safety issues to try and alleviate some of those calls or just be aware of the problems that you might see,” Chris Fenner with the Wilmington Fire Department said.
Here are some safety tips for using a space heater:
For those of you with HVAC systems turning the heat on for the first time, firefighters say don’t be too alarmed if your home smells a little smoky for a few minutes.
“What happens is those heat strips are going to get burnt and it’s going to smell like things are burning. What that basically is, is the dust burning off those heat strips because they haven’t been turned on in so long, and they’ve just been sitting. So, a lot of times you’re going to find that burning smell throughout your house, originally, and it tends to go away after a few minutes. Obviously, if you need us, call us. But that’s one thing to keep in mind this time of year,” Fenner said.
If you’re planning on buying a space heater soon, make sure to look for one that has tip over protection. That ensures that if the heater is tipped over, it will automatically shut off to prevent a fire.
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