Most accidents with heaters happen because people sit too close to them or stand them too close to clothing or other items. Some people also leave them on all night. Electric heaters are most likely to cause a problem, while gas, solid fuel and LPG gas heaters, and electric fans, can also be dangerous if you don’t take care.
There are some general safety tips that cover most heaters and fans. Be careful where you place them: make sure that they are away from furnishings and that the appliances and their leads won’t trip anyone. Try to buy appliances that automatically turn off if they are knocked over.
Read and follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions, and make sure that all members of the household understand how to use the appliance safely. Keep the owner’s manual in a convenient place to refer to when needed. Have any appliance serviced regularly.
Keep electric fans away from gas hobs or other open flames, and keep heaters away from papers, bedding, draperies, and other combustible materials to prevent fires. Make sure any appliances are away from water to prevent electric shocks.
Never leave a heater or fan on unattended or when you go to sleep, or leave children or pets alone in a room it.
General tips for heaters and fires
- keep all types of heater clean
- try to sit at least one meter away from the heat source
- never use aerosol sprays near a space heater
- don’t dry laundry by the fire or leave anything nearby that could fall onto it
- use a fireguard for an open or gas fire if you have young children or pets
- wall-mounted fires should be one meter away from furnishings or doors
- for open fires, brush out flues monthly and have your chimney swept every year
- don’t cover the air grills of storage, fan and convection heaters
Gas fires
- always use a CORGI-registered installer for installation and maintenance
- look for the British Standards safety mark or British seal of approval when buying
- never block or obstruct a vent
- don’t flip any electrical switches if you smell gas
- when changing gas cylinders, don’t open the valve on the new cylinder until it’s properly connected
Bathroom heaters and towel rails
All electric heaters and water heaters in bathrooms must be fixed and permanently wired. This means that they won’t have a plug and socket. They must also be out of reach of the bath or shower, that’s more than 0.6 m away. Electric heaters should be controlled by a pull-cord or by a switch located outside the bathroom.