Space heaters do the job, but remember to use them safely

With cold weather approaching, staying warm is front of mind. But safety must also always be a top consideration, and that’s especially true when it comes to using space heaters. They do a great job of providing some extra warmth without raising the thermostat (in fact, they can very efficiently heat a single room, allowing you to turn the thermostat down a degree or two), but space heaters can be fire hazards when used improperly. Here are some do’s and don’ts to help you stay warm – and safe – during the colder seasons.

DO buy a space heater with the Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) label.

DO plug a space heater directly into an outlet; never use an extension cord.

DO turn off a space heater before leaving the house or going to bed.

DO turn the space heater off and unplug it if its cord or plug gets hot. (Warm is normal, but hot is not.)

DO keep space heaters at least three feet from anything that could catch fire.

DO keep small children and pets away from space heaters.

DON’T use a space heater without a tip-over switch. Space heaters with tip-over switches turn off automatically when knocked over.

DON’T put a space heater anywhere it could get wet.

DON’T use a space heater to dry or warm clothes, towels or linens.

Visit lge-ku.com/safety/electric for more electric safety tips.