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Safe or not ? Space Heaters
Posted by: helpless ()
Date: December 11, 2010 07:17AM

Thanks to a failed heat exchanger on my furnace I have no central heat till late next week. Got 4 electric space heaters from Wall-E world and plugged each one into a seperate circuit in my house. They heat the house somewhat and one will heat one room nicely if I leave the door to that room closed.
I have to leave these things turned on 24/7 for the next five or six days. I wonder what are the chances one of these heaters will melt down or burst into flames.

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Re: Safe or not ? Space Heaters
Date: December 11, 2010 07:27AM

"Burning down the house!" jk


Sorry for your troubles; be careful with those heaters.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/11/2010 07:28AM by AndThat'sWhat'sUp!.

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Re: Safe or not ? Space Heaters
Posted by: Beavis ()
Date: December 11, 2010 07:44AM

Fire, fire!

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Re: Safe or not ? Space Heaters
Posted by: hot times ()
Date: December 11, 2010 07:48AM

AndThat'sWhat'sUp! Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "Burning down the house!" jk
>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNnAvTTaJjM

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Re: Safe or not ? Space Heaters
Posted by: Good Sound Advice ()
Date: December 11, 2010 08:05AM

Use some extra blankets, cardboard boxes and newspaper to build a tent-like wall around your space heaters. This will help concentrate the heat into areas that it normally would not reach.

Turn on your oven and the stove burners also.

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Re: Safe or not ? Space Heaters
Posted by: TheMeeper ()
Date: December 11, 2010 08:41AM

Do you really need to keep them running 24/7?

I keep one in my living room, and during cold spells I almost always have it on while I'm in there. I like the extra warm air circulating around me. But, I turn it off when I'm not in there, and would never run it while I'm not at home.

Leaving them on 24 hours a days seems unnecessary, and I don't think it's good to leave them unattended.

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Re: Safe or not ? Space Heaters
Posted by: Good Sound Advice ()
Date: December 11, 2010 08:52AM

TheMeeper Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Leaving them on 24 hours a days seems unnecessary,
> and I don't think it's good to leave them
> unattended.


Nonsense. Space heater are better and safer than ever.

There hasn't been a space heater fire in this country in over 30 years.

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Re: Safe or not ? Space Heaters
Posted by: tirefire ()
Date: December 11, 2010 08:58AM

helpless Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks to a failed heat exchanger on my furnace I
> have no central heat till late next week. Got 4
> electric space heaters from Wall-E world and
> plugged each one into a seperate circuit in my
> house. They heat the house somewhat and one will
> heat one room nicely if I leave the door to that
> room closed.
> I have to leave these things turned on 24/7 for
> the next five or six days. I wonder what are the
> chances one of these heaters will melt down or
> burst into flames.

careful dude
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP5j5FczIAE

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Re: Safe or not ? Space Heaters
Posted by: flushed face ()
Date: December 11, 2010 09:11AM

This thread reminds me I need to turn off the in-ground sprinkler system...soon!

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Re: Safe or not ? Space Heaters
Posted by: walliford pip ()
Date: December 11, 2010 09:26AM

when it gets too cold in my place I eat lots of baked beans and light my farts on fire

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Re: Safe or not ? Space Heaters
Posted by: Jeremy ()
Date: December 11, 2010 10:08PM

did you get forced draft heaters, ie ones with fans?

usually the best kind to get are the ones that have automatic temperature controls that will shut off when the air surrounding the heater reaches a pre-set temperature. they do draw alot of electricity, so having one plugged into the same outlet or on the same circuit with other electrical devices can cause the circuit to trip.

for a larger room, the convection heaters, ones filled with oil, ususally work the best. these are the ones that resemble radiators. it takes a bit longer for them to heat up, but they seem to keep a room at a more even temperature. as with the forced draft heaters, if you run too many items on the same circuit, you run the chance of tripping the circuit.

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Re: Safe or not ? Space Heaters
Posted by: justsayin ()
Date: December 11, 2010 10:20PM

TheMeeper Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Do you really need to keep them running 24/7?
>
> I keep one in my living room, and during cold
> spells I almost always have it on while I'm in
> there. I like the extra warm air circulating
> around me. But, I turn it off when I'm not in
> there, and would never run it while I'm not at
> home.
>
> Leaving them on 24 hours a days seems unnecessary,
> and I don't think it's good to leave them
> unattended.

What he said. I keep one going in the basement while I'm down there but I'm not sure there is a reason to have them on where people aren't, unless some pets are involved.

That said, I don't think any newer heating units are going to start a fire, the circuit breakers would trip before that happens. IF you are worried, make sure the heaters are located under fire/smoke alarms and keep an extinguisher handy.

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Re: Safe or not ? Space Heaters
Posted by: bloody blisters ()
Date: December 11, 2010 10:36PM

they have some space heaters that have safety features installed in them. im thinking of those disc heaters from wal mart they sold quite some years back. if those were ever tipped or knocked over there was a loud buzzer that would sound. those things pissed me off. im sure there are some more complex safety features that have been installed nowadays, but like anything, i wouldnt trust them. shut it off when you arent there. wear some layers when you are. best of luck.

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