A space heater can be a great way to warm up a chilly room without heating up the whole house. This can be help lower those winter heating bills.
Portable electric space heaters are so common that we often forget how dangerous they can be when they’re placed too close to something that can catch fire – such as curtains, bedding, or upholstered furniture.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, portable space heaters – mostly electric – are responsible for about 1,700 house fires a year, on average.
That’s why when Consumer Reports evaluated space heaters it conducts three tests to determine the unit’s potential for causing a fire, as well as a hot-surface test to see if it will cause burns if touched.
Most of the 49 models CR tested recently got high marks for fire safety; only a few rated good or better on our hot-surface test.
Here are the two space models that had excellent or very good ratings in both the fire safety and hot-surface tests:
- The Vornado VMH600, which sells for around $170, scored an 86
- The less expensive Vornado SRTH, which is about $45, rated a 68.
Both have tip-over switches that turn them off if they get knocked over.
More Info: How to Be Sure You’re Using Your Space Heater Safely
