What the?

[SeaCat]

Okay, a bit of history.
I am currently living in Southern Florida and renting a house built in 1951. That means it has no heat and no insulation. (It's a beautiful house, for a block house.)

I got tired of freezing my butt off so last week I went out looking for some space heaters. I'm picky, I wanted the Ceramics. they work better, use less electricity and are smaller. The only place I could find them was in K-Mart. (Nope, Wal-Mart does not carry Space Heaters down here.) I picked up several. (I told ya, I got tired of freezing my butt off.)

Now they are forecasting it to drop down to the low forties over the next couple of days. Cold in an area where our normal temps are 80°F.

On the news tonight they recommended aginst people getting space heaters, they are dangerous. (?) The news anchor made the comment that the state government is advising against people using the space heaters to supplement their central heat and A/C because it just wasn't needed. Huh?

Okay, maybe the newer buildings, the ones with 700 square foot condoes going for $250K have central heat. What about the older homes? What about the Mobile Homes? What about the places where the people who do the work here in south Florida live? Or don't these people, the Teachers, the Police officers, the FireFighters and Nurses count?

What the hell? (Oh and by the way, I paid $35.00 a piece for a heater which on Cape Cod would have cost me $10.00.)

Cat

Okay, Rant over.

 

[The_Fool]

Fire hazard? I know that you have to be careful with Kerosene Space heaters because of carbon monoxide.

 

[carsonshepherd]

They're safe as long as you don't leave them unattended, which is something only an idiot would do anyway.

 

[Guest]

Fire hazard? I know that you have to be careful with Kerosene Space heaters because of carbon monoxide.

Yes. We almost bought one for a back-up heat source during the last ice storm but decided against it because of that.

Stinks, Cat - what are you going to do?

 

[entitled]

That's bull.

There have been plenty of houses i've lived in that the only heat came from electric space heaters. Operative word there being -electric-. As long as you practice basic safety stuff they won't cause any problems.

Don't plug too many into a single outlet.
Don't put flammables too close to them.
Things of that nature.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

I seriously doubt a good quality ceramic or quartz space heater is any more dangerous than say electric baseboard heat.

We used them when our furnace went out. I think the people who put out these bulletins must think everyone is stupid and will set the heater three inches away from their bed linens or something.

 

[SeaCat]

The most common problems from Space Heaters are from the gas fired ones. Carbon Monoxide poisoning.

Other than that, the problem comes from people being stupid. (Gee what a surprise that is.) and their then trying to sue.

I did manage to get some Ceramic Heaters. (K-Mart of all places.) My living room is now warming up from the 57°F it was at when I got home this afternoon. Not one but two of these heaters will be placed in the bathroom tomorrow morning when we get up. (The rest of the house may be around 35°F but the bathroom will be warm!)

The house I am renting, as I said, was built in 1950 and has no heat. We are under a freeze warning tonight and tomorrow night. This cat hates the cold and will not freeze! (I moved south for a reason.)

Cat