On cold winter days, it can be nice to have a little extra heat in the house. Space heaters will do the job and do it safely — if you remain aware of possible dangers. Here are the three rules of safe space heater use.
1. Keep the heater three feet away from anything in the room. Drapes, papers, and other materials can catch fire from the heat if they are too close.
2. Turn the heater off at night and when you leave the house or apartment.
3. Be sure to have a carbon monoxide alarm. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas. By the time you notice its effects, it could be too late to get out. Have a smoke alarm outside bedroom doors and in other areas of the house.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.
