As part of fire safety training one aspect they will often cover is gas heater safety tips. During the winter months there are many homes which will rely heavily on their gas heater to keep a room warm. This does make a great deal of sense in terms of energy saving, as there is no point in using the central heating when you are only using one room.

With this being said if you do have a gas heater at home, there are some important safety tips which you must bear in mind.

Carbon Monoxide Sensor

A gas heater certainly has the potential to leak carbon monoxide, a dangerous gas which can cause you great damage. This is a gas which has no scent, cannot be seen and cannot be tasted, which is what makes it so dangerous. For a very low price however you can buy a carbon monoxide sensor, which will change color when it detects carbon monoxide in the air.

Ventilation 

Ventilation is essential for making sure that any harmful gases coming from the gas fire are able to leave the room.

Turning It Off

You must always ensure that you have turned the gas heater off before you go to bed. This is not something that can be left unattended at any time. The same thing goes for leaving the property, even if it is just for a short time, you must make sure that you have switched the fire off first.

Maintenance

It is critical that as soon as the winter has rolled around, that  you get your gas heater serviced. All components of the heater must be in good shape in order for it to work well, and for it to operate safely during the winter months.

Avoid Items by The Fire

There should be absolutely no item within a meter of the fire whilst it is on. You only need to speak to fire crews or a fire extinguisher service to find out just how many fires are started because of items left near the gas fire. This is dangerous and you must always ensure that there is a safety zone around the fire.

No Drying

Some people place items on top of the gas heater to dry them off, but this is very dangerous. This could easily set fire to the item or it could restrict the airflow on the gas heater and cause additional safety issues.

Do Not Move The Unit

If your gas heater is portable then you should never move it whilst it is on, this is dangerous and you could severely burn yourself. If you need to move the unit then switch it off, allow it to cool, move the unit and then fire it back up again.

These little fires are fantastic at keeping us warm, just be sure that you are always conscious of the dangers which they can present, and that you are risk averse when operating the gas fire.