Commenting on the energy price cap kicking in, Lesley Rudd, Chief Executive of Electrical Safety First said: “For many people the recent increase in the energy price cap will now start being reflected in their revised bills, which may lead to changing habits in how we heat our homes. We anticipate millions more will turn to portable plug-in heaters in order to reduce their costs by heating single rooms in their home as an alternative to central heating. We urge the public to be cautious when using plug-in heaters to reduce the risk of fire. Never leave plug in heaters unattended and ensure they are kept away from flammable fabrics. We understand this is a difficult time for many and we urge people to reduce their risk by always following our safety advice.”
Notes to editor:
- A survey of more than 3,000 adults in the UK commissioned by consumer safety charity, Electrical Safety First, found that 77% of respondents were either very or fairly concerned about rising energy costs when it comes to heating their home this winter[i].
- Of those, 43% are considering using an electrical heater to heat a single room in their home due to worries about the cost of running central heating[ii]
Electrical Safety First tips on using portable electric heaters safely:
- Put your heater on a level surface, well away from anything or anyone that could knock it over.
- Make sure your heater is at least one metre away from combustible materials, such as paper, furniture or curtains.
- Never use it to dry your clothes!
- Never leave your heater unattended whilst in use or while you are asleep.
- Never power a heater from an extension lead – they can easily be overloaded and cause fires.
- Regularly inspect your heater for damage and deterioration. If it isn’t in good condition, don’t use it!
- Avoid second-hand heaters. Make sure you buy from manufacturers or retailers that you know and trust.
- Make sure that you register your heater with the manufacturer so that, if there is a problem, they can contact you to repair or replace. You can find out more about product registration at www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/registration
[i] Taken from Censuswide survey of 3000 UK adults commissioned by Electrical Safety First, 77.71% of those surveyed responded with ‘Very concerned’ or ‘Fairly concerned’ to ‘How concerned are you about rising energy costs when it comes to heating your home this winter?’
[ii] Taken from Censuswide survey of 3000 UK adults commissioned by Electrical Safety First, 43.32% of those surveyed who responded with ‘Very concerned’ or ‘Fairly concerned’ to ‘How concerned are you about rising energy costs when it comes to heating your home this winter?’ also responded with ‘Yes definitely’ or ‘Yes possibly’ to ‘Do you plan to use an electric heater solely to heat a single room in your home because you are concerned about the cost of central heating this winter?’