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Now that the heating season is upon us, Iowa’s electric cooperatives are encouraging Iowans to be wise consumers if they are thinking about buying a portable electric space heater.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, portable electric space heaters are typically used when the main heating system is inadequate or when central heating is too costly to install or operate. The Department of Energy also states that in some cases, portable electric space heaters can help reduce overall heating bills, if the temperature setting on the thermostat for a furnace that heats the whole home is lowered. 

“At Iowa’s electric cooperatives, we recommend that Iowans considering the purchase of a portable electric space heater talk to a local retailer or heating and cooling professional to identify what will best meet their heating needs before buying one of these appliances,” said Regi Goodale, director of regulatory affairs, Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives. “Also take time to do a little research on your own before plunking down your hard-earned cash. Like any tool or appliance, one size does not fit all.”

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Division provides information
about portable electric space heaters at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/463.html and http://www.cpsc.gov/volstd/heater/heater.html.

Safety also is a top consideration when using space heaters. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than 25,000 residential fires every year are associated with the use of space heaters, causing more than 300 deaths. An estimated 6,000 persons receive hospital emergency room care for burn injuries associated with contacting hot surfaces of room heaters, mostly in non-fire situations.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends following these guidelines when buying and installing a portable electric space heater.

• Only purchase newer model heaters that have all of the current safety features. Make sure the heater has the Underwriter’s Laboratory label attached to it. 

• Choose thermostatically controlled heaters, since they avoid the energy waste of overheating a room. 

• Select a heater of the proper size for the room you wish to heat. Do not purchase oversized heaters. Most heaters come with a general sizing table. 

• Locate the heater on a level surface away from foot traffic. Be especially careful to keep children and pets away from the heater. 

Also according the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Division, portable electric space heaters are generally more expensive to operate than combustion space heaters, but they are the only unvented space heaters that are safe to operate inside your home. Although portable electric space heaters avoid indoor air quality concerns, they still carry hazards of potential burns and fires, and should be used with caution.

The Iowa Utilities Board recommends that Iowans make health and safety primary considerations when taking wise steps to improve a home’s energy efficiency.

Member service representatives at local electric cooperatives in Iowa also are a resource for energy efficiency and electric safety information. 

The Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, formed in 1942, represents the interests of and provides support to the electric cooperatives that provide power in each of Iowa’s 99 counties to approximately 650,000 people.