Electrical radiators provide one of the reliable ways to keep our houses warm, particularly during the cold winter months.
If you don’t want to wake up in an indoor environment that’s as chilly as the outside, leaving your radiators on overnight is a sure-fire way to guarantee that a toasty temperature fills your room in the morning.
However, considering that radiators and space heaters are the second most popular cause of fires in winter, anyone concerned with the safety of radiators would ask:
So, Is It Safe To Leave A Radiator On Overnight And Unattended?
A simple answer would be – YES if your radiators are fixed to the wall with no obstructions and NO if you have free-standing radiators.
Fixed radiators can safely run overnight, but free-standing electric radiators can be knocked over and pose a risk if left unattended. That’s why it is not a good idea to leave your free-standing radiator running overnight and unattended.
If you are contemplating the safety of radiators and space heaters, you are in the right place.
This post will discuss everything you need to know about electrical radiators to help you reap all the benefits radiators have to offer while minimizing the risk of electrical fires.
Are Electric Radiators safe?
First thing first, electric radiators are different from other central heating radiators in that they don’t rely on a network of plumbing to deliver heat.
They are standalone units that use convection to heat the air around them.
Interestingly, all the electricity that radiators draw from the wall is converted into effective warmth, making them 100% energy efficient.
Concerning safety, electric radiators come with a number of features, including overheat protection and intuitive technology, which make them a relatively safe option.
Even better, radiators from reputable brands come with robust warranties and manuals advising you on where you can and cannot place your radiator around the house; all meant to safeguard your wellbeing.
When temperatures drop significantly, radiators can be safely used for an extended period of time.
This means you can leave your electric radiator running throughout the night without the unit posing any serious risk.
Indeed, good-quality electric radiators can efficiently and reliably heat your house for 24 hours a day.
However, this doesn’t mean you should leave a radiator unattended for an extended period of time. For safety reasons, it is a good idea not to leave the unit running for long without your attention.
If your radiators are fixed to the wall with no obstructions, the good news is that you can leave them on overnight and unattended and still be safe.
All you need is to ensure that the radiator is not covered by anything flammable. Also, make sure that nothing can mask the thermostat, causing the unit to overheat.
As for free-standing electric radiators, there is the possibility of being knocked over, which can be hazardous. For this reason, it is unsafe to leave them running throughout the night.
Overall, electric radiators are considered completely safe as long as they are used correctly.
They come with precision thermostats that automatically stop them from drawing power immediately after reaching the desired temperature.
Best Practices For Using Your Electric Heater
While electric radiators have proven to provide the safest and most efficient home heating method, cheaper, low-quality models can pose a risk to your home.
Though not always, cheaper electric radiators have poor fire safety mechanisms and tend to overheat. That’s why you need to follow safety guidelines.
Here are safety tips to help you minimize the risk of electrical fires even when using your electrical radiator for extended periods.
1. Fix Your Electrical Radiators To Walls
This eliminates the chances of knocking over any of your radiators, ultimately augmenting safety.
2. Keep Electrical Radiators Away From Flammable Materials
Proper placement ensures safety and efficiency. To prevent electrical fires, it is recommended to place or fix your electrical radiator at least three feet from flammable objects, including curtains, clothing, rugs, bedding, and furniture.
3. Always Plug Radiators In Grounded Receptacles
Electrical radiators can easily overload circuits, especially when left for an extended period and along with many other things. This can increase the risk for electrical fires, so, for optimal safety, use grounded outlets for radiators.
4. Always Turn Off Your Radiator Before Leaving Your House
The last thing you want is to set your house on fire.
That’s why, whether for safety reasons or energy efficiency, we are constantly being told not to leave appliances on when leaving our homes.
Even if your radiator has top-quality safety features, switching it off is a sure-fire way to ensure it doesn’t become a fire hazard.
5. Avoid Using Your Electric Radiator As A Supplement Dryer
Considering that electrical radiators emit a good amount of heat, it is easy to get tempted to use your radiator to dry clothes.
The bad news is that using a radiator to dry clothes can end up causing a fire. So, to avoid fires, just avoid draping socks, towels, and other clothing near your radiator.
This is very important if you want to leave your radiator on overnight and unattended.
6. Install A Smoke Alarm
Even after buying a good-quality electric radiator, it is good to have a fully functioning smoke detector. A top-quality smoke detector can alert you when your house is on fire.
They are designed to detect even small bits of smoke and alert you before severe damage occurs.
Well-built, high-quality electric radiators have safeguards against most potential risks.
However, considering that they can still be a fire hazard with improper usage, it makes perfect sense to uphold the best practices that will help to optimally prevent or possibly eliminate hazards.
Safety Features To Consider When Choosing The Right Electrical Radiators
Most radiator manufacturers have safety as a top priority when making electric radiators.
Here are features to look for when buying an electrical radiator.
1. Automatic Shut-off
Modern radiators are designed with sensors that detect when the internal heating components become too hot.
Depending on your settings, when the internal temperatures are deemed approaching excessive, the automatic shut-off shuts down the radiator automatically.
As such, this feature prevents overheating, consequently preventing electrical fires.
2. Tip-over Protection
If you have children and pets around the homes, you should consider an electrical radiator with tip-over protection.
Tip-over protection forces your radiator to turn off when knocked over.
This feature is also vital for a free-standing radiator that will be running overnight.
3. Adjustable Thermostat
Adjustable thermostat is handy in conserving energy. It only allows the radiator to run when the temperature falls below a preset value.
4. Cool To Touch Protection
Driven by curiosity, your kids and pets can inadvertently touch your radiator when it is running. For this reason,
it is a good idea to invest in a high-quality radiator that feels cool to touch to prevent accidental burns.
5. Timer
As the name suggests, this feature lets you set how long you want your electrical radiator to run. The feature can be very handy if you leave your radiator running while sleeping.
Electrical radiators from reputable brands usually have safety certifications, which guarantees that the radiator meets the safety standards.
Before buying, check if the radiator has a label from testing organizations.
Some of the well-known testing organizations include Canadian Standards Association (CSA), Intertek (ETL), and Underwriters Laboratory (UL).
Conclusion
Radiators have many benefits over old units.
They have proven to be the ultimate space heaters, providing a safe and efficient way to keep your home warm during winter.
Hopefully, after reading this post, you got insights into what it takes to leave a radiator on overnight and unattended.
Related
References
https://www.newair.com/blogs/learn/are-space-heaters-safe-to-leave-on-all-night