- Do not use portable heaters in wet or moist places such as bathrooms unless specified for that purpose. Water damage or corrosion to the heater can cause shock and fire hazards.
- Do not hide cords beneath carpets or rugs. Overheating of the cord can cause a fire. Only use extension cords when necessary as some extension cords are not able to handle the wattage of certain heaters and can over heat. When extension cords are necessary, make sure the cord is marked #14 or #12 A WG. This number tells the thickness of the wire. The lower the number the thicker the wire. Only use cords marked with the label of an independent testing laboratory such as U.L. or E.T.L.
- Be sure the cord fits snuggly into the socket and unplug them if the cord feels hot near the outlet. Warm cords may be defective and warm outlets should be checked by a qualified electrician or repairman.
- If the heater is plugged into an outlet protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) and the GFCI trips, don’t assume the GFCI is broken. The GFCI protects areas where leakage currents can cause severe shock. In this situation, have your heater checked.
- Space Heater Usage on Campus