Vornado heaters are generally considered safe and feature robust built-in protections like automatic tip-over switches, overheat shut-off, and cool-touch exteriors. However, past models have occasionally been subject to recalls due to fire or melting risks, making it important to verify your unit.
No. Vornado heaters are intended for attended, short-term use only. Turning the heater off when leaving the room or going to sleep ensures it is only operating: When someone is present to verify it's functioning normally.
Heaters that use gas, wood, or kerosene can cause carbon monoxide poisoning in enclosed spaces when used incorrectly. As it gets cooler, it's important to remember to be safe when keeping warm.
The safest heaters to leave on overnight are permanently installed electric baseboard heaters or portable oil-filled radiant heaters. Because the heating element is fully enclosed and submerged in oil, these models do not get red-hot, lack exposed coils, and are much less likely to ignite nearby bedding or curtains.
Common signs of a carbon monoxide leak include:
RECALL: Vornado Air is recalling VH101 Personal Vortex electric space heater models following 15 reports of the heaters catching fire. All the heater catching fire. After 8 hours using you have to turn off.
Is it okay to run the unit 24 hours a day? Yes, Vornado Humidifiers are designed to run continuously.
Amazing Little Heater
I was extremely impressed! For such a small machine to put out that much heat 60- 90 degrees is simply amazing. The Vornado Velocity 4 Whole Room Space Heater does everything it says it will do.
While the exact statistical probability of a space heater catching fire on any given day is very low, heating equipment is the second-leading cause of home fires in the United States. Portable space heaters are involved in about 1,600 house fires and cause dozens of fatalities every year.
Portable Space Heaters Can pose a serious fire risk if left unattended. Always make sure to turn them off when leaving the room or going to sleep. Following these safety tips can help prevent winter fires and keep your home safe and warm.
Recommended Usage Times
At Night: If you choose to use your space heater overnight, it's best to limit its operation to 4 to 6 hours on a lower setting.
It's very easy for things in your home to catch fire if placed too close to a fan heater. Also, try to keep children and animals away from fan heaters. It's possible that they could drop or poke something through the vents and onto the metal coil, which may start a fire, and puts them in danger if they're too close.
To avoid burns, do not let bare skin touch hot surfaces. Use handles when moving this heater. Keep combustible materials, such as furniture, pillows, bedding, papers, clothes, and curtains at least 3 feet (0.9 m) from the front of the heater and keep them away from the sides and rear.
The safest space heaters are oil-filled radiators and modern ceramic heaters with built-in safety features like tip-over sensors, automatic overheat shutoff, and cool-touch exteriors. Always choose models that are ETL or UL certified and keep them at least three feet away from flammable items.
Vornado recalled about 7,780 VH2 Whole Room Heaters because their power cords can detach and cause electric shock or fire hazards. These were sold exclusively on Amazon between August and October 2024 for about $90.
Infrared heaters directly warm objects and people in a "line-of-sight" manner. While highly efficient for targeted heating, their main drawbacks include a lack of retained warmth once turned off, vulnerability to blocking by furniture, and ineffective heating in uninsulated spaces.
Yes, Vornado is widely considered an excellent, premium brand known for its powerful air circulation, durability, and outstanding warranties. Their unique "vortex" technology moves air much further than standard fans, making them a top pick by experts like Wirecutter.
Running a space heater overnight increases the risk of fire. If the unit is left unattended or placed too close to flammable materials, such as curtains or bedding, it can ignite and lead to a devastating fire.
Oil heaters
They're often fitted with an automatic shutoff feature which means they'll turn off automatically if you leave the heater unattended. This makes an oil-filled heater relatively safe to leave on at night.
Breathing air warmed by electric space heaters is generally safe. However, fuel-burning heaters (like kerosene or propane) produce carbon monoxide and should never be used indoors without proper venting. Regardless of the type, all space heaters dry out the air, which can irritate your throat, lungs, and nasal passages.
Sealed combustion heaters are much safer to operate than other types of space heaters, and operate more efficiently because they do not draw in the heated air from the room and exhaust it to the outdoors.
Following several fire events, WorkSafe investigated the S2068 model and determined that it did not meet New Zealand safety standards. A prohibition notice for sale and use of the S2068 was followed by the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs issuing a compulsory recall for Serene S2068 bathroom heaters in 2024.
The Risk of Space Heater Fires
One third of fires in the home are caused by space heaters.