As winter sets in across north India, room heaters come out in lakhs of homes. Used carelessly, they can cause fires, burns, electric shocks and even deaths from poisonous gas. Here are simple safety tips.
Types of heaters
- Oil filled radiators: heat the room evenly, have no exposed glowing element and are seen as safer for bedrooms and homes with children. They take longer to warm up.
- Fan heaters: warm a small room quickly but can dry the air.
- Halogen and quartz heaters: give quick, direct heat but have hot glowing rods and can dry the skin and eyes.
- Infrared heaters: warm people and objects directly.
Choose a heater that suits your room size and needs.
Buy safe products
- Buy heaters with the ISI mark from the Bureau of Indian Standards.
- Look for safety features like overheat protection, tip over switch off and a thermostat.
- Check the power rating and make sure your wiring can handle it.
Placement
- Keep heaters at least one metre away from curtains, beds, sofas, clothes and paper.
- Place them on a flat, stable floor.
- Keep them away from water and bathrooms, unless designed for wet areas.
- Keep children and pets at a safe distance.
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Electrical safety
- Plug the heater directly into a wall socket of the right rating.
- Avoid extension boards and multi plugs, which can overheat.
- Do not run the cord under carpets.
- Check for frayed wires and loose plugs before every winter.
While using
- Do not leave a heater running when you leave the room or go to sleep.
- Do not dry clothes on or near heaters.
- Keep a door or window slightly open to allow some fresh air.
The danger of coal and wood fires indoors
Every winter, there are reports of people dying in their sleep after burning coal, wood or charcoal in an angithi or sigri inside a closed room. These fires produce carbon monoxide, a colourless and odourless gas that can kill without warning. Never use them in a closed room. If you must use them, put them out completely before sleeping and keep the room ventilated.
Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning
- Headache, dizziness and nausea.
- Confusion and drowsiness.
- Breathlessness.
Move the person to fresh air at once and seek medical help.
Saving power
Heaters use a lot of electricity. Use a thermostat, heat only the room you are in and keep doors closed while heating.
Bottom line
Choose an ISI marked heater, keep it away from fabric, plug it into a wall socket and switch it off before sleeping. Never burn coal or wood in a closed room.
Source / स्रोत: Bureau of Indian Standards, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, National Disaster Management Authority
