During the hot season, you might have gotten used to having nighttime dining and entertainment outside your living room. As the cold season is approaching, you find it hard to let your routine go. The good thing is you do not have to. With the invention of an outdoor heater, your outdoor space can remain warm, enabling you to continue your nighttime routine with family and friends. The heater could turn most frigid evenings into a crazy outdoor nook. However, with the large amount of heat produced by the outdoor heater comes a safety hazard. You need to ensure you are careful when dealing with it. Luckily, it is straightforward to prevent fire hazards by implementing the tips highlighted in this article.
Choose the right heater for your space.
There has been tremendous growth in the market of outdoor heaters, increasing the number of varying heaters for your space. The significant variation in the heaters is their heat source. It can either source heat from gas, electricity, or wood. The other disparity is the shape it could come in. There are a variety of styles that you can choose from, including the pyramid-shaped heaters that contain flame inside the glass tube or classic domed heaters that feature an umbrella-like reflector at the top. Therefore, you need to select an outdoor heater that performs well for your space based on this consideration. It is necessary to develop a pros and cons list of the available heaters and choose one that matches your space height, size, and capacity. A free-standing heater is advisable for small spaces, while a pit fire is preferable for larger areas. Additionally, it is crucial to evaluate an outdoor heater’s heat capacity and fuel efficiency before purchasing. The permissible limit for an outdoor heater is approximately 5,000 British Thermal Units per square foot.
Choose a safe space
In order to prevent any fire hazards, the heater has to have safe surroundings and adequate clearance of about three feet from the heater. Regarding safe surroundings, the heater should be placed away from walls, furniture, and materials such as carpet and table cloths. Furthermore, for semi-open spaces, the area should have proper ventilation and air circulation to prevent the possibility of carbon monoxide buildup, which can cause suffocation.
Safe placement
In the case of a portable patio heater, you will only use it on flat surfaces as any inclination increases the possibility of tilting and causing a fire hazard. It will help if you incorporate heat-resistant stabilizers such as sandbags to prevent movement. Alternatively, you can peg your heater to the lawn using flame-retardant ties such as bungee cords. As a safety precaution measure, high-end heaters use sensors to automatically switch off the burner when it senses the heater falling. Consider placing your heater as per the manufacturer’s direction in the instruction manual.
Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
In worst-case scenarios, the outdoor heater could cause a fire; and for this, you should have an efficient and effective way of putting out the fire. Thus, a fire extinguisher should be on standby. The fire extinguisher should be of the correct classification for your outdoor heater. Gas heaters require class B extinguisher, and electric ones need class C extinguisher. Better yet, use a multipurpose fire extinguisher.
Other safety precaution
Consider installing a smoke and carbon monoxide detector near the heater to alarm you in case of a fire hazard. Alternatively, you can use a thermocouple as a safety precaution measure. The thermocouple responds to changes in temperature by shutting off the gas valve, which prevents the leaking of gas.
