Winter is here and that means freezing or near freezing temperatures. For some, the cost of central heating is a financial burden. Many people turn to space heaters as an alternative to residential furnaces as they are an effective way to warm a room and they are surprisingly energy efficient. Other advantages to space heaters include their ability to heat a space as large as 300 square feet both rapidly and evenly.
While space heaters can be a practical and cost-effective solution during the winter months, they also come with serious risks when used improperly, malfunction, or are designed with a defect. Fires and burn injuries caused by space heaters can have devastating consequences, sometimes leaving victims facing medical bills, lost income, and serious long-term recovery.
If you or a loved one was injured in a space heater accident, understanding your legal rights is critical. A personal injury attorney can assess your accident and let you know if you have a valid accident claim, which can make all the difference in protecting yourself and your family.
Space Heater Accidents Statistics
Between 2019–2023, home heating equipment was the cause of an average of 38,881 house fires per year. These house fires were responsible for 432 deaths, 1,352 injuries, and $1.1 billion in property damage annually. Space heaters and heating stoves were involved in about 29 percent of these home heating fires, yet accounted for roughly 77 percent of the deaths and 71 percent of the injuries in fires caused by heating equipment.
Space heater accidents are most common in the months of December to February when temperatures drop. When people use heaters for supplemental heat during cold snaps – especially in poorly insulated or older homes – the risk of a house fire increases.
Portable Space Heating Safety Tips
If you use a portable space heater to warm your house this winter, follow these safety tips from NFPA:
- Keep flammable items at least three feet away from the heating device.
- Teach your children about the heat that heaters put out and have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around your space heaters.
- Have a qualified professional check and clean your heating equipment and chimneys each year before use.
- Do not leave portable heaters running when leaving the room or going to bed.
- If you are using a fuel-burning space heater, only use the type of fuel recommended by the manufacturer
- Test smoke alarms on a regular basis.
- Store fuel containers, piping, and regulators upright in a safe and dry area where they will not be damaged; preferably outdoors.
- Protect valves from physical damage.
When used correctly, space heaters are a safe, cost-efficient, and effective way to heat rooms within your home. Be sure to follow safety tips to avoid a space heater accident. If you or a loved one was injured in a house fire or suffered burns caused by a defective portable space heater or the negligence of another party, you do not have to navigate the aftermath alone. A local personal injury lawyer can help you navigate a personal injury claim.
Seek the Help of a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one was injured because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! Since 1979, our personal injury law firm, Tario & Associates, P.S., has been dedicated to fighting for the rights of people injured throughout Washington State, with local offices in Bellingham and Mount Vernon to serve residents of Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and Snohomish counties. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
