Home Heating Devices

As winter’s chill sets in, the Lisle-Woodridge Fire District, Fire Prevention Bureau advises extra precautions be taken to reduce the risk of fire. 

Two of every three home heating fires, and three of every four related deaths, were attributed to space heating equipment.   All types of common space heating equipment are involved in home fires: portable electric heaters, portable kerosene heaters, wood stoves, and fireplaces.  Common causes of space heating home fires are:  lack of regular cleaning, creosote build-up, failure to give space heaters space by installing or placing them too close to combustibles, basic flaws in construction or design of space heating equipment, and fueling errors involving liquid or gas-fueled heating equipment. 

Safety hints to keep in mind when operating an electric or kerosene heater are:

- Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for operation and maintenance.

- When purchasing a new unit, make sure it carries the mark of an independent testing lab.  Be sure a qualified technician installs the unit. When purchasing heaters, look for devices with automatic shutoff features.

- Check gas heaters for gas line punctures, leaking valves and connectors.

- Be sure any gas-fueled heating device is installed with proper attention to ventilation, and never put un-vented gas space heaters in bedrooms or bathrooms.  LP (liquid petroleum) gas heaters with self-contained fuel supplies are prohibited for home use by NFPA codes.

- Check wires and fuses frequently

- Use only clear, Grade A, K-1 kerosene in kerosene heaters.  Never use yellow kerosene, gasoline or camp stove fuel.  Refuel equipment only after it has cooled down. 

- Space heaters need space.  Keep all combustible materials at least 3 feet away from portable space heaters.

- Always turn off space heaters when leaving a room and when going to sleep.

Remember wood stoves and fireplaces carry their own precautions:

- Never burn green wood, paper, holiday wrapping paper or trash.

- Use a sturdy fireplace screen large enough to cover the opening to keep sparks from flying into the room and be sure to top the chimney with a spark guard. 

- Regular cleaning and inspection of wood stove, fireplace and chimney is a necessity.

- Wood and coal stoves, fireplaces, chimneys, chimney connectors and all solid-fueled heating equipment need to be inspected annually by a professional and cleaned as often as the inspections indicate.

For more information on this or any other fire prevention issue, contact the Lisle-Woodridge Fire Prevention Bureau at 630-353-3030 or visit our website at www.lwfd.org.