Space Heater

Which Is Safer: The Electric Space Heater or Electric Fireplace?

According to the National Fire Protection Assoc. (NFPA) heating equipment was the second leading cause of home fires and home fire deaths.

The heating equipment category includes central heating, fixed and portable space heaters and wood stoves. Of these, fixed space heaters (wall mounted or freestanding propane heaters) accounted for 17% of the fires and 28% of the civilian deaths.

Portable heaters (propane and electric) caused far fewer fires, only 8% of the total, but accounted for 46% of the total deaths resulting from heating equipment fires.

So how can this be with increasingly stringent space heater manufacturing safety standards?

The best answer to this question comes from Fire Chief Eric Chichester of Parkersburg, WV, a state which had 6 space heater related deaths in October: “The problem isn't really with the space heater itself, but with misusing it and leaving it unattended.”

If misuse of the space heater and not the space heater itself is the cause of fires, which type of heater would be prone to misuse more frequently; an electric fireplace or space heater?

Although far fewer electric fireplaces are sold in North America than small space heaters, close tracking of the occurrences of space heater fires so far this season has yet to reveal an instance where an electric fireplace was a contributing factor.

This suggests that people are less likely to misuse an electric fireplace and therefore the electric fireplace is safer. But this begs the question; why are electric fireplaces misused less than ordinary space heaters?

The answer to this lies in the overall size and design of the electric fireplace. The placement of the electric firebox in the middle of a 4 foot wide unit creates a natural buffer zone on either side between it and draperies, furniture or bedding that might be in the room.

By keeping flammables away from the heater you will practically eliminate the number one cause of space heater fires.

An electric fireplace is also regarded as a beautiful piece of furniture which makes it less likely that bags of clothing, boxes, etc. would be piled in front of it – never mind blocking the heat source.

The perception that an electric fireplace, by virtue of its size, is more powerful than it really is probably tempts fewer people to plug it into an overloaded extension cord. Plugging an electric fireplace into its own wall socket all but eliminates another potential fire hazard.

Finally, the flame display, crackling fire sound effect, and humming of the blower serve as a constant reminder the fireplace is running and makes it less likely it would be left on when the house is unoccupied.

Rather than trying to pit the electric fireplace against the electric space heater, the real purpose of this article is to remind everyone that any space heater can be a safe space heater if you keep it at least 3’ away from combustibles, don’t use an extension cord, and remember to turn it off when you go to bed and leave the house.

About the Author

Electric fireplaces are beautiful, fun and efficient. Find exactly what you’re looking for in a price range you can afford at Sam’s Guide to Electric Fireplaces.

Crane EE-6490 Personal Space Heater 600/1200 Watt $65.99 Space Heater

Crane EE-6353 Oscillating Space Tower Heater 600/1200 Watt $120.99 Space Heater

Lasko 5412 Space Heater $17.99 1.50 kW 5412 5412 Space Heater ETL Ceramic Electric Handle High Lasko Lasko Products Low Portable Space Heater Thermostat www.laskoproducts.com

Patton PUH675-UM Space Heater $19.99 1 Year Limited 2 Electric Gray Jarden Corporation PUH675-UM PUH675-UM Space Heater Patton Space Heater Thermostat www.jarden.com

Sunbeam SCH720 Space Heater $37.99 2 Automatic On/Off Ceramic Electric Jarden Corporation Plastic SCH720 SCH720 Space Heater SCH720-UM Space Heater Sunbeam www.jarden.com

Lasko 5511 Space Heater $48.99 1500 W 3 Year Limited 5511 5511 Space Heater Ceramic Electric Lasko Lasko Products Silver Space Heater Thermostat Timer Tower www.laskoproducts.com

Lasko 6356 Space Heater $55.99 1.50 kW 30" Height 6356 6356 Space Heater Widespread Oscillation Programmable Thermostat ETL Ceramic Electric Floor Handle High Lasko Lasko Products Low Space Heater Thermostat Timer www.laskoproducts.com

Kaz HZ370BP Space Heater $49.99 Automatic On/Off Black Ceramic Electric HZ370BP HZ370BP Space Heater Kaz Kaz, Inc Space Heater Thermal Cut-off Thermostat Tip-over Cut-off Switch www.kaz.com

Holmes HRH314 Space Heater $28.99 11" Height x 17.50" Width x 6.50" Depth 1500 W Automatic On/Off Ceramic Electric HRH314 HRH314 Space Heater Handle Holmes Jarden Corporation Portable Space Heater Thermostat www.jarden.com

Lasko 4775 Space Heater $35.99 2 4775 4775 Space Heater 900 W to 1500 W Automatic On/Off Ceramic ETL Electric Lasko Lasko Products Space Heater Thermostat Timer Tower www.laskoproducts.com

Holmes HEH8001-TG Space Heater $30.99 1000 W to 1500 W Energy-saving heater fan equipped with Ecosave Technology Uses 25-percent less energy than traditional heaters Automatic On/Off Electric HEH8001-TG HEH8001-TG Space Heater Holmes Jarden Corporation Resistant Coil Wire Space Heater Timer Tip-over Cut-off Switch www.jarden.com

Lorell 33551 Space Heater $33.99 12.50 A 33551 33551 Space Heater 500 W to 1500 W Four-Setting Portable Heater features 500-watt, 1000-watt, 1500-watt and fan-only settings. Adjustable thermostat maintains desired temperature. Heater offers built-in thermal cutoff, two-prong plug and built-in carrying handle. Built-in thermal cutoff prevents the heater from overheating. U.L Listed China Each Electric Fan Only Handle Light Gray Lorell No Portable Space Heater Thermal Cut-off Thermostat www.lorellfurniture.com

Lorell 33565 Space Heater $65.99 12.50 A 1500 W 2 30" Height 33565 33565 Space Heater 33565 Space Heater Remote Ceramic oscillating tower heater with remote control features two heat settings plus fan only. Temperature control settings range from 65 to 85 degrees. Heater automatically adjusts heat setting for energy savings while maintaining a set room temperature, overheat protection and tip-over protection. Tower heater offers three-prong US plug and a handle for easy transport. 1500 watts. 12.5 amperage. Ceramic China Each Electric Fan Only Gray Lorell No Space Heater Tip-over Cut-off Switch Tower www.lorellfurniture.com

Lorell 33564 Space Heater $57.99 2 33564 33564 Space Heater 900 W to 1500 W Twin ceramic heater has two heat settings of 900 and 1500 watts plus fan only. Design offers five room temperature control settings (65/70/75/80/85 degrees Fahrenheit), overheat protection and triple ceramic heating element for wide-angle heating. Ceramic heater includes a two-prong plug and carry handle. Automatic On/Off Ceramic China Each Electric Fan Only Floor Gray Handle Lorell No Space Heater www.lorellfurniture.com

Lorell 29554 Space Heater $110.99 1500 W 2 29554 29554 Space Heater 29554 Space Heater Remote Control Microthermic Heater features two heat settings, digital control with LED display, 24-hour timer, automatic shutoff overheat protection, safety tip-over switch and silent operation. Adjust from across the room with included remote control. Temperature settings range from 40 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. 1500 watt heater can be mounted to a wall. Automatic On/Off Black China ETL Electric Lorell No Portable Space Heater Timer Tip-over Cut-off Switch White www.lorellfurniture.com

Lorell 29551 Space Heater $37.99 2 29551 29551 Space Heater 900 W to 1500 W Heater fan offers electronic control and two settings of 1500 watts and 900 watts. Choose temperature settings from the 65, 70, 75, 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit to keep your area warm enough. You can manually swivel the heater to direct air flow. Housing stays cool to the touch. Heater fan features auto shutoff, a carrying handle and 6' polarized power plug. Automatic On/Off China Electric Handle Light Gray Lorell No Space Heater www.lorellfurniture.com

Lasko 5568 Space Heater $66.99 1.50 kW 34" Height 5568 5568 Space Heater 900 W Electronic Auto-Off Timer Widespread Oscillation Automatic Overheat Protection ETL Listed Ceramic Electric Handle High Lasko Lasko Products Low Space Heater Thermostat Tilt Timer Tower www.laskoproducts.com

Lasko 5129 Space Heater $50.99 1500 W 27" Height 5129 5129 Space Heater 8-hour timer Easy to read digital controls Automatic overheat protection ETL Ceramic Electric High Lasko Lasko Products Low Space Heater Thermostat Tower www.laskoproducts.com

Lasko 5628 Space Heater $47.99 110 V AC 12.50 A 12.60 lb 1500 W 5628 5628 Space Heater 6.62" Height x 41" Width x 10.40" Depth Automatic On/Off Beige Electric Lasko Lasko Products Space Heater Timer www.laskoproducts.com

Honeywell HZ-325 Space Heater $33.99 1.50 kW 12.13" Height x 7.80" Width x 8.78" Depth 3 Year Limited Tilts to direct heat Ceramic Electric HZ-325 HZ-325 Space Heater Honeywell Honeywell International, Inc Space Heater Thermal Cut-off Thermostat Tip-over Cut-off Switch White www51.honeywell.com/honeywell/

Holmes HCH4051-UM Space Heater $21.99 2 750 W to 1500 W Convenient top controls and read handle for easy operation Anti-freeze setting Automatic On/Off Ceramic Electric Fan HCH4051-UM HCH4051-UM Space Heater Holmes Jarden Corporation Metal Housing Space Heater Thermostat www.jarden.com

Patton PUH9000-U Space Heater $40.99 12.50 A 1500 W 6.50 lb Automatic On/Off Electric Handle High Jarden Corporation Low Metal Grill Metal Housing PUH9000-U PUH9000-U Space Heater Patton Space Heater Thermostat Tip-over Cut-off Switch www.jarden.com

Sunbeam SFH612-UM Space Heater $33.99 2 7.13" Width x 8.62" Depth Oscillation features evenly distributes the heat throughout the house Large carry handle for easy portability Overheat protection UL Automatic On/Off Electric Jarden Corporation Plastic Housing SFH612-UM SFH612-UM Space Heater Space Heater Sunbeam Thermostat www.jarden.com

Lorell 29556 Space Heater $55.99 1500 W 29556 29556 Space Heater Infrared heater features a power and caution protection light, overheat protection and tip-over switch. Move easily with the carry handle. 1500 watt heather has a US three-prong plug. China Electric Handle Infrared Lorell No Portable Space Heater Tip-over Cut-off Switch UL White www.lorellfurniture.com

Kaz HZ338TGT Space Heater $52.99 1500 W 2 7.50" Height x 12" Width x 12" Depth It features a SafeGuard Alert badge that monitors the grille and warns when it is hot. Automatic On/Off Black Ceramic Electric HZ338TGT Honeywell HZ338TGT Oscillating Ceramic Heater Kaz Kaz, Inc Portable Space Heater Thermostat www.kaz.com

Lorell 33553 Space Heater $39.99 12.50 A 33553 33553 Space Heater 900 W to 1500 W Motion Sensor Oscillating Heater with digital control offers heat (900, 1500 watt) and fan only settings as well as auto setting for energy savings and safety. Automatic motion sensor detects movement within 10'. Heater turns on when movement is detected and off 10 minutes after motion has ceased. Motion sensor setting can be overridden. Digital thermostat with LED display shows current and desired temperature level. Clock display has two 24-hour timers. Heater has backup memory, two-prong plug and carrying handle. U.L Listed China Each Electric Fan Only Floor Handle Light Gray Lorell No Space Heater Thermostat Timer www.lorellfurniture.com

Lorell 33554 Space Heater $68.99 12.50 A 1500 W 33554 33554 Space Heater 33554 Space Heater Remote Control Ceramic tower heater features a motion sensor, remote control, and oscillating function. Motion sensor saves energy by turning heater on if movement is detected within 10' and turns off 10 minutes after motion has ceased. Heater offers two-prong plug, remote control, HI/LO/AUTO heat settings and fan only setting. Energy-saving ceramic heating elements require little electrical current after initial startup. Digital thermostat with LED display shows current and desired temperature level. Two timers can be set for morning and night eliminating a daily resetting of timers. Tower heater includes a two-prong plug, clock display and backup memory. 120v/60hz. 1500W. 12.5 amperage. Ceramic China Dark Gray Each Electric Fan Only High Lorell Low No Space Heater Thermostat Timer Tower www.lorellfurniture.com

Lorell 33556 Space Heater $38.99 1000 W to 1500 W 12.50 A 2 33556 33556 Space Heater PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) Ceramic Heater provides efficient, reliable instant heat when turned on. After initial setup, heating element becomes virtually self-heating and requires little electrical current to heat an entire room. Adjustable thermostat maintains desired temperature. Ceramic heater has two heat settings, one-fan only setting and a two-prong plug. Built-in thermal cutoff prevents the heater from overheating. If the temperature rises above a certain point, the thermal cutoff will kick in and stop the heater. Ceramic heater heats 100 square feet on low heat setting or 144 square feet on the high heat setting. 12.5 amperage. 120 Volts. 60hz. 1,000 watts on low. 1,500 watts on high. 5,200 BTU. Ceramic China Each Electric Fan Only Floor Light Gray Lorell No Space Heater Thermal Cut-off Thermostat www.lorellfurniture.com

Holmes HFH421-U Space Heater $23.99 Easy to adjust manual controls allow you to easily set your desired comfort level Quiet heat or fan only setting for year round continuous use The heater shuts off automatically if it overheats Slender design with an attractive swirl grill offers easy comfort control thermostat and two wattage settings to choose from. Gives you control for maximum heating comfort. Viziheat color-changing grill means the grill changes color to warn you that it is hot. Electric HFH421-U HFH421-U Space Heater Holmes Jarden Corporation Space Heater Thermostat www.jarden.com

Lorell 29550 Space Heater $48.99 110 V AC 1500 W 2 29550 29550 Space Heater Indicator Light Three-Prong Plug Utility heater offers two settings and a fan. Thermostat is adjustable for comfort control. 1500 watt fan also includes power light, caution indicator light and three-prong plug. Safety features include safety overheat and tip-over protection. Move from room to room with carry handle. China Electric Handle Lorell No Portable Putty Space Heater Thermostat Tip-over Cut-off Switch UL www.lorellfurniture.com

Honeywell HZ-725 Space Heater $93.99 1.50 kW 23.58" Height x 21.18" Width x 5.83" Depth 3 Year Limited 750 W Cool touch frame Uses less energy with the auto cycle thermostat Lightweight Silent heating Electric Gray HZ-725 HZ-725 Space Heater HZ725 Honeywell Honeywell International, Inc Space Heater Thermostat Tip-over Cut-off Switch www51.honeywell.com/honeywell/

Lasko 6462 Space Heater $60.99 1500 W 25" Height x 11" Width x 11" Depth 6462 6462 Space Heater 8.10 lb 3 heat sweep settings 90/170/360 degrees Easy to clean filter ETL Listed Ceramic Electric High Lasko Lasko Products Low Space Heater Thermostat Tip-over Cut-off Switch www.laskoproducts.com

Holmes HFH105-UM Space Heater $14.99 1 Year 1000 W to 1500 W 2 2.78 oz 9.92" Height x 8.19" Width x 4.84" Depth High and low wattage settings for heating Cord wrap and carry handle Auto safety shutoff Ceramic Electric HFH105-UM HFH105-UM Space Heater Holmes Jarden Corporation Space Heater White www.jarden.com

Kaz HZ-7200-MP1 Space Heater $56.99 1.50 kW 3 Year Limited Automatically maintains desired comfort level - no need to continually adjust Compact design fits into any home decor Oscillates for wide area heating Cool touch housing for added safety protection Black Electric HZ-7200-MP1 HZ-7200-MP1 Space Heater Honeywell International, Inc Kaz Portable Space Heater Tip-over Cut-off Switch www51.honeywell.com/honeywell/

Holmes HFH5606-UM Space Heater $32.99 1000 W to 1500 W 13.50" Height x 9.12" Width x 9.62" Depth 2 6 lb Oscillation feature evenly disperses warmth throughout the room Shuts off automatically if it overheats 1-touch thermostat control UL Electric HFH5606-UM HFH5606-UM Space Heater High Holmes Jarden Corporation Low Plastic Housing Space Heater Thermostat www.jarden.com

Jarden HCH4266U Space Heater $28.99 1000 W to 1500 W 2 5 Year Limited 8.37" Height x 6.62" Width x 11.25" Depth Large grille provide a wide range of heat dispersion Deliver the heat anywhere using convenient handle Auto safety shut-off to prevent overheating Black Ceramic Electric HCH4266U HCH4266U Space Heater Jarden Jarden Corporation Space Heater Thermostat www.jarden.com

TATCO 39000 Space Heater $93.99 0% 1 Each 150 W 16" Height x 23" Width x 1" Depth 39000 39000 Space heater 900 mA 39000 Space Heater Handy Stand No hot surface Directs heat where you need Provides gentle direct heat for cold feet and legs using one-tenth the energy of most space heaters. Allows for several workers to have personal warmer without threat of blown circuits. Lack of hot surface minimizes chance for burns or fire. No risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. 150 watts, 0.9 amps. Includes handy stand that holds panel and directs heat or may be mounted on wall. Electric Floor Metal Space Heater TATCO Tatco Products, Inc White www.tatcoproducts.com

Dayton U33 Space Heater $113.95 Warm your workspace to the perfect temperature with the Dayton U33 portable milkhouse electric convection heater. This heater features many upgrades that make it safe, portable and very efficient. It's also easy to use and is perfect for heating light commercial spaces like jobsites, workshops or small garages! Convenient Design The Dayton U33 electric heater comes with sturdy handles that make it easy to move and a 72" cord that allows the maximum range of motion. It also comes with feet to help protect the base of the heater, no matter where you place it. Solid Construction Just looking at the U33 portable milkhouse heater, you can see the quality of the construction. It features a steel frame with steel intake and discharge grilles that make it durable and sure to last. Safety Features The U33 electric space heater includes many extra safety features like automatic overheat protection, a tip-over switch and a resettabl

Bionaire BCH9221-UM Space Heater $60.99 1500 W 2 29" Height x 8.60" Width x 8.30" Depth 8.80 lb Easy to read and adjust digital controls with LCD display will help you maintain your desired comfort level Quiet heat or fan only setting for year round continuous use Oscillation feature evenly distributes heat in the room ETL Automatic On/Off BCH9221-UM BCH9221-UM Space Heater Bionaire Black Ceramic Electric Gray Jarden Corporation Plastic Housing Space Heater Thermostat Timer Tip-over Cut-off Switch Tower www.jarden.com

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