Many homes have cold or drafty rooms. Electric heaters are an excellent way to boost home comfort with a cost-effective solution. They are an ideal way to heat a cold room, an addition, or even an entire home. Due to the safety reputation of portable electric heaters, many people wonder if all electric heaters are unsafe.
Not all electric heaters are created equal. Wall-mounted electric heaters provide numerous advantages over portable electric heaters, especially when considering safety and ease of use. By design, wall-mounted heaters, including electric baseboard and wall panel units, have many advantages that make them much easier to use safely than portable heaters.
Wall-mounted heaters are hardwired for safety
Unlike portable options, wall-mounted units are hardwired into the wall, thus there is no cord to possibly trip over. Conversely, portable heaters have cords that must plug into an outlet, allowing them to be moved around. Many such units are placed in the middle of the room thus the cord extends several feet.
The cord itself makes the portable units less safe to operate and mean they shouldn’t be located in high-traffic areas. Tripping over a cord can cause a portable unit to fall over, creating a fire risk. Young children and pets can even tip over the heating unit without understanding why it should be upright and leave it in an unsafe position. The cord also creates a tripping hazard, especially in low-lighting. Eliminating the cord completely avoids this potential problem and frees up valuable floor space.
Stationary heaters eliminate the need for extension cords and power strip
Due to a shortage of outlets or their location in the home, many portable heaters require extension cords or power strips to operate. These elements can exacerbate safety concerns, especially if they are not designed for the electrical load. Many fire departments warn against this hazard because it is such a common cause of house fires.
Some people use portable space heaters with inadequate or overloaded extension cords or power strips that cannot properly handle the current. The cords or power strips can overload the circuit or overheat, boosting fire safety concerns. These important issues are eliminated with wall-mounted products that are properly installed because they plug directly into the electrical wiring of the home and do not require extension cords or power strips.
Runtal wall-mounted units have high heat output with low surface temperatures
Some space heaters can reach temperatures of up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit! In addition to being a fire hazard, they are also a burn or shock hazard, especially for pets and children. On the other hand, Runtal wall-mounted electric heaters reach temperatures up to 145 degrees Fahrenheit yet they have high heat output. This makes them far safer than many portable heaters both as a burn risk and for fire safety. Runtal products are designed for exceptional comfort and even home temperatures.
Product certifications for safety standards
One of the best ways to know if a heating product is safe is if it has met stringent safety standards. UL certification means the product meets standards for safety. CE certification ensures a product meets the European Union standards for safety. Runtal heaters are both UL and CE certified.
Electric heaters don’t require combustion fuels
Many heating systems require natural gas, propane, or heating oil which can create safety and air quality issues. Undetected natural gas or propane leaks or heating oil fumes in the home can expose occupants to unsafe levels of contaminants or even create a fire hazard. Long-term exposure to fumes can cause serious health problems. It is important to inspect gas and oil heating systems for leaks to ensure safe operation.
Electric heaters do not contain a flame or involve combustion. Because electric heating systems do not require gas or oil, it eliminates the risk of leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Wall-mounted heaters are attached to the wall
Due to high surface temperatures, many portable electric heaters need to be placed at least three feet away from objects that can burn, such as blankets, carpeting, and furniture. This can make safe placement very difficult, especially in small or carpeted rooms. It can also mean that a cord is running across the floor, adding an obstacle.
Unlike portable heaters, electric baseboard or wall panel units are attached to the wall. Because Runtal heaters do not reach high surface temperatures, there are fewer considerations for safe placement. This makes it easier to find an ideal and convenient location, saving space.
For proper performance, it is important not to have furniture blocking wall heater, preventing it from evenly distributing heat throughout the room. Lower surface temperatures make it easy to find an ideal and convenient location. Baseboard heaters are often placed under windows and wall panels can be used where there is free surface area on a wall.
Portable heaters should not be left unattended
Due to fire and safety concerns, portable heaters should not be left unattended. After use, they should be turned off and unplugged from the wall. Wall-mounted electric heaters have numerous safety features that make them both safe and reliable and can safely be left unattended. Runtal heaters are highly durable and can keep homes comfortable for many, many years.
Guest Written by Sarah Lozanova. You can learn more about Sarah here.