Regardless of whether you unplug it afterward, placement matters.
Keep portable heaters well away from:
Curtains
Bedding
Clothing
Paper
Furniture
Rugs
Other combustible materials
Don’t use a damaged heater.
And don’t ignore unusual
smells, sounds, overheating, or damaged cords.
Never Treat a Space Heater Like a Permanent Appliance
A portable heater isn’t something I’d casually leave running while you’re away from home.
If you need continuous heating, use an appropriate fixed heating system or follow the manufacturer’s guidance for your specific equipment.
Appliance #5: Older or Damaged Appliances
This may be the most important category of all.
Age alone doesn’t automatically mean an appliance is dangerous.
But an appliance that is damaged, overheating, sparking, buzzing, or behaving strangely deserves attention.
If you have
an old appliance that you rarely use, unplugging it when it’s not needed can be a sensible precaution while you decide whether it should be repaired or replaced.
