WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) - It's starting to be at that time of year when you don't really need heat during the day, but it gets pretty chilly at night, however, we have an alert for you if a space heater is your solution.
Here's what you need to know. Space heaters need to be plugged directly into an outlet, never an extension cord or power strip. They need to be at least 3 feet away from drapes, bedding and furniture, and lastly don't leave space heaters unattended, that means do not leave them on while you're asleep.
Space heaters can do a great job of heating a room quickly. However, they do use more electricity than other electronic devices. A space heater uses about 750-3,000 watts per hour, while a TV is about 150 watts.
Here's why the amount is important, because it's pulling more electricity, and the cord can get hot. You never want to hide the cord under furniture or rugs, also because of that extra wattage, a space heater should be the only thing plugged into an outlet.
About 1,700 fires each year in the US is due to people not using space heaters safely. Sadly about 80 people die, and 160 suffer injuries.