Temporary heaters come in handy in multiple situations, like during power failures or construction projects. Now that we’re moving into the cooler months, heater rentals are about to pick up.
While our units are user-friendly and safe to use, you do need to carefully follow safety precautions to avoid damage or injury. Keep reading to learn what not to do, with our top five mistakes people make with portable heaters.
If you have questions about operating a heater, visit our heater troubleshooting library.
The Five Most Common Mistakes People Make With Portable Heaters
When using a portable heater, you should never:
1. Placing Debris Piles or Trash Near Heater or Enclosing the Unit:
It’s important to be mindful of what is placed near the unit in order to avoid a fire hazard. While the heaters are often installed in the right place by a professional, work crews must be mindful to maintain a safe distance around the unit during the construction job. It’s also important not to place anything adjacent to the unit.
After you place the heater in a safe area, it’s important to make sure it stays that way. While you are working in an area that has a temporary heater, you should regularly monitor it to make sure no one is unknowingly piling debris or items near the heater.
2. Restrict Ventilation:
Direct fired heaters require an open air environment, but even indirect fired heaters need ventilation in addition to the duct work that runs to the outside of the building. It’s important to be sure that your portable heater has ample ventilation. If the portable heater cannot ventilate properly, this can lead to overheating or a buildup of carbon monoxide.
3. Adding Fuel to the Unit While it is Running or Still Hot:
For safety, make sure you shut off your unit and allow it to cool before adding fuel. Find out more information about safe fueling practices.
4. Leaving the Gas Supply on When the Heater is Off:
If you leave the fuel supply on, heat will spill out of the unit without being used, filling the room with fuel. This could result in serious damage the next time you turn the heater on, or even if there is a small spark in the room.
5. Storing Excess Fuel Near Unit:
This coincides with number 1; you want to keep flammable items far away from your heater. Storing containers of fuel near your heater presents a serious fire hazard.
We hope these tips help keep you safe while using our heaters! Check out the units we have available.