CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) – Given the cold week ahead, you might feel the need to use a second heat source, such as a space heater, to warm your house, but you should exercise caution.
The Chesapeake Fire Department says they receive more calls in the colder months.
“Everybody wants that secondary heat. Obviously, we want to maintain that certain temperature within the homes. And again, there’s nothing wrong with using a secondary approved heat source, but we just want to make sure everybody does it safely,” said Lt. Robert Warren with the Chesapeake Fire Department.
CFD says space heaters are relatively safe when used properly.
“Anytime you’re using one in a room, if you put it in the center of the room, you want to make sure that you have at least a three-foot clearance from any combustible materials, such as your couches, your tables or chairs and so forth,” said Lt. Warren.
Lt. Warren says calls in reference to space heaters come in across Hampton Roads. In December, the Virginia Beach Fire Department responded to a fire due to a space heater that displaced one person.
If you do set one up, Lt. Warren says make sure it’s plugged directly into the wall.
“You don’t want to use extension cords, and you don’t want to use surge protectors. They can’t handle the load, the current load that comes with them. Sometimes it can cause them to melt, fray and burn and then start a fire that way,” said Lt. Warren.
Now, if you don’t have a space heater but want to use your fireplace, you might need to check up on it before starting the fire.
“One of the first things you want to do is have your chimney inspected and your fireplace inspected to make sure that there’s no cracks or damage or any unseen ground-level problems,” said Lt. Warren.