How to Use a Space Heater Safely

A space heater can make a cold room cozy, but used the wrong way, it's a real fire risk. Here are the simple rules fire departments give, so you can stay warm and safe.

1. Step 1: Pick A Safer Heater

Choose a heater with a safety testing lab label, and one that turns itself off if it tips over. Many also shut off if they overheat.

2. Step 2: The Three Foot Rule

Keep it at least three feet away from anything that can burn. That means curtains, bedding, couches, clothes, and paper. Set it on a level, hard floor, not on a rug, a bed, or a chair.

3. Step 3: Plug It Right Into The Wall

Plug the heater directly into a wall outlet, with nothing else plugged into that same outlet. Never use an extension cord or a power strip. They can overheat.