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A HOUSEHOLD HOW-TO · HOME SAFETY

Make a clear space around heat before the cold evening.

October 13 edition · Published October 13, 2026 · 5-minute read

A blanket moved beside a heater changes the room even if the equipment has not changed. Start in ordinary conditions with equipment off and cool. This is a placement check, not permission to operate damaged equipment or a substitute for professional inspection.

1. Start free with one heat source and its instructions.

Choose an accessible source already in your home and find its current manual. No purchase is needed to start. Do not move fixed equipment, open covers or reach into hot spaces. If equipment is damaged, wet or behaving unusually, stop and get appropriate qualified help. If there is fire, smoke or immediate danger, leave and call emergency services from safety; do not troubleshoot with this checklist.

2. Measure the space that must stay clear.

USFA calls for keeping things that can burn at least three feet from heat sources. Follow any greater manufacturer clearance. With the source off and cool, use a tape measure you already have to check nearby movable items such as bedding, curtains, paper and furniture. A photograph or eye estimate is not a measurement. Do not touch hot parts or treat the measured distance as certification of the equipment, outlet or installation.

3. Move ordinary combustibles safely, or leave the heater off.

Move only household items you can handle safely and keep exit routes clear. Look for curtains that may swing and blankets that may fall back into the space. If a portable heater cannot meet its instructions and the required clearance in that location, do not operate it there. Do not improvise a barrier or use a smaller clearance because the room is crowded. Ask a qualified professional about unresolved fixed-equipment placement questions.

4. Pair placement with the turn-off rule.

Turn space heaters off before leaving the room or going to bed. Write who will check that step during normal use; a timer is not permission to leave one running unattended or while asleep. Never use an oven to heat the home. This guide does not cover fuel handling, electrical connection choices or backup heating during an outage; follow the equipment instructions and official guidance specific to those situations.

5. Put maintenance on a real calendar.

USFA recommends annual professional cleaning and inspection of heating equipment and chimneys. Check your existing service record and arrange the appropriate qualified service if due. A clean space does not show whether a chimney, vent or heater is functioning correctly. Renters can ask the building manager about the applicable service record and who handles the work. Record unresolved questions rather than marking them complete.

Phone-save recap

Equipment off and cool. Read its instructions. Measure at least three feet from combustibles and any greater required clearance. Keep exits clear. Turn space heaters off before leaving or sleeping. Arrange appropriate professional maintenance. Follow actual emergency protective instructions promptly.

Sources and review

USFA Heating Fire Safety opened October 13, 2026; the page lists May 4, 2023 as its own review date. The measurement, assigned responsibility and calendar record are our organizing method. No product is selected; checking existing instructions and space is the free first action.

• USFA: Heating Fire Safety