Are space heaters dangerous? Follow these safety tips!

With winter weather on the way, you may be looking for some extra ways to keep warm, like a space heater. They're convenient, but they do come with some risks.
Experts say a space heater may not be the best option to keep warm during the cold weather. Officials say a flawed space heater sparked a deadly fire in New York City last week, killing 17 people. Recent data shows 81% of home heating fire deaths involved stationary or portable space heaters.
Keep it at least three feet away from anything flammable, like curtains, bedding and upholstered furniture.
And always turn it off when you go to bed or leave the room. Plug space heaters directly into the wall, never use a power strip.
Fire officials say a surge protector may not be equipped to handle the power needed for the space heater and could cause a fire if it becomes overwhelmed.
And finally, only use space heaters with a tag from an approved testing lab.
The cautionary tips may seem a little over the top when you're cold, but they could end up saving your life. #WakeUpCLT #SpaceHeaters
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[@Sparky-ww5re]

In addition to common sense steps like keeping the heater 3 feet away from combustibles, turning it off when you go to sleep, etc. the age of the home can drastically impact the chances of a fire hazard. Many homes that were built or remodeled from 1964 - 1974, contains aluminum wiring for the circuits, this type of wiring has a tendency to expand/contract away from outlets and switches during high loading, causing dangerous heat at outlets. also many newer home particularly tract home use backstab connections to outlets rather than tightening the screw around the wire. These connections are unreliable and can cause heat when high watt devices are used.

[@charlessmith263]

Very sad. And that is why if you want to connect 3 space heaters, your old house will need to be rewired by a qualified electrician to take on 20 amp wires, which will lead to dedicated 20 amp circuits on your circuit breaker (that electrician may also have to revamp the switchboard too)--at least 3 dedicated circuits of 20 amps only for these space heaters, which can take that high amount of power and electricity heat without tripping the breaker and causing you to be out in the cold. It could cost as much as $1,000 or so to do this--or even more, but only an electrician pro can do this.
Another tip - even if you use only outlet plugs in a room to use space heaters - do not use more than one heater in the same room even on different outlets. The different outlets in the room could still lead to the same circuit on the breaker (not dedicated), and if you blast both heaters to say, 28 total amps---your breaker will trip and that's it--because the amps are just way too much. You lose the heat and the electricity. So use one space heater per room--only!

[@oldphart-zc3jz]

Mine are gas only with smoke and CO detectors strategically placed. I set them on a piece of cement board and keep a fire extinguisher between me and it with at least one more near an exit (you can never have too many extinguishers). I am both a smoke detector and fire extinguisher save after a dumbass room mate passed out holding a cigarette! My home and shops have many extinguishers including industrial since I have (or would make) the space.