With the official beginning of winter just around the corner in Brisbane and cold temperatures already being felt it’s time to pull out the heaters and electric blankets to make enjoying your home just a little bit more comfortable. In our latest post, our team of Fixzit electricians share some safety tips when using electric heater and blankets during the cooler months.

What to do before you start using existing heaters or electric blankets
As your taking your heater or electric blanket out of storage, we always recommend carrying out a brief inspection of the condition of power cords. Any frayed or worn cords on appliances should never be used, and if the grill of your heater has rusted significantly these should also be avoided as there is a risk of created ‘hotspots’ which can cause electrical fires. Additionally any signs of damage should be inspected by a licensed electrician who can carry out any necessary repairs before use.

Safety tips when using heaters and electric blankets

• Never leave a heater on unattended while you are out of the home. Always keep heaters unplugged when not in use.
• Make sure the use of heater is in an area that is ventilated and not used up against walls or curtains.
• Never use an electric heater in a bathroom or attempt to use a heater to dry clothes.
• Do not place your heater on furniture to raise the height of a heater.
• Only ever attempt to clean a heater or electric blanket by following the manufacturer’s official instructions.
• Plug all heaters into their own outlet and avoid the use of extension cords, as this can lead to overheating.
• Never leave electric blankets or heaters on overnight.

Buying a new heater? Here’s what to remember:

• Look for models that include safety features such as overheating protection and tip over protection.
• Only buy models that are manufactured to national standard. Look for an approval mark on the packaging, and if in doubt ask the sales assistant to advise you
• Consider buying an oil heater as these are safer than electric or fan heaters.

.Since winter brings a greater risk of fire in the home, we also recommend making sure your smoke alarms are working effectively and replacing the batteries if needed. For help installing new or additional smoke alarms, or to carry out any repairs on existing appliances call the Fixzit team today on 1300 726 806.