In addition to fires, carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a risk when it comes to using vent-free propane space heaters while you're sleeping. Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, which means you can take in a dangerous amount of it while you're sleeping before the CO detector near your bedroom goes off.
Sleeping with the heater ON increases the levels of carbon monoxide in the room above the safe level. The risk of asphyxia (sleep death) is high when using gas heaters. The excessive carbon monoxide in the room chokes the supply of blood to the brain, which can lead to hemorrhage and eventually death.
Burns: If you sit too close to a space heater, there is a risk of thermal burns. Skin can become damaged if it comes into direct contact with a hot surface or if the heat is intense enough.
Absolutely not! Electric heat is probably the most healthy heat available. Heaters fueled by other fuels are actually hazardous to your health for many reasons relating to the various fuels they use and the fumes they emit. Never let anyone tell you electric heat is unhealthy.
Heaters tend to produce dry heat and as a result can dehydrate your skin. Dehydrated skin is a loss of water in the Skin Cell and shows in the form of fine lines, which can then, if left un-treated, become wrinkles.
Improperly maintained or faulty fuel-burning heaters can release carbon monoxide gas, which is odourless and colourless. Breathing in high levels of carbon monoxide can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, resulting in symptoms like headaches, dizziness, nausea, and can even be fatal in extreme cases.
Prolonged exposure to heat sources can lead to changes in the skin's superficial blood vessels, cells and fibers, creating hyperpigmentation or discoloration. With changes to the skin cells, other problems can occur.
Fire Hazards
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.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
A common misconception is that only fuel-burning heaters pose a risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. However, improper ventilation of electrical space heaters can also lead to dangerous CO levels.
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. They are also less likely to backdraft and adversely affect indoor air quality.
Yes, you should not sit close to a heater, especially if it is an electric heater with a fan. This is because the direct airflow can lead to drying and sometimes burning of your skin, and you also face the risk of nodding on the heater, which could cause severe burns and other risks.
It is not safe to run a space heater overnight. If you use an electric or propane space heater during the day, make sure to protect yourself and your home by following all safety practices. Use space heaters that automatically turn off if they tip over. Only plug space heaters into grounded outlets.
Oil-filled room heaters are a good option if you are looking for something that you can use through the night, as they emit warmth even after they shut off. Prolonged usage of heaters in a closed room can be dangerous as it can create carbon monoxide poisoning, which can cause headaches, dizziness and weakness.
Oil-filled heaters are ideal for
They run quietly and keep the heat even after they're turned off, making them perfect for overnight use or for long-lasting comfort without needing to stay on.
The disadvantages of electric heating encompass slower heating times and higher energy bills over time. For instance, an electric furnace can take a significant amount of time to power the included heating element and adequately warm the air within a home.
Breathing in dry air can lead to a dry throat, which may become irritated and sore. 1 Running the heater or air conditioning overnight can make the air you breathe drier and may be why your throat is only sore at night. Mouth breathing while sleeping, especially in a dry environment, can make your throat dry and sore.
Common side effects
Dehydration: Dry indoor air may lead to excessive water loss from the body, resulting in dehydration. Allergies and irritation: Dust particles or allergens circulated by heaters, especially fan-based models, can trigger allergies or worsen respiratory conditions.
For instance, if you turn on your heater for the first time of the season and smell burning dust, this is completely normal. It just means there's dust in your heating unit, which is harmless and should burn off quickly. If you smell an electrical burning smell, on the other hand, this is not normal at all.
It can trigger chest pain and heart problems.
This is why it's not recommended to keep it on for a long time, as the heat will raise the CO above safe levels which can be harmful to our health. The effects of keeping room heaters on for prolonged periods of time can trigger chest pain and initiate other heart problems.
Sleeping with the heater on increases the levels of carbon monoxide in the room. People with heart disease may get chest pain, while smokers with heart disease are particularly at risk, so are young children and elderly. The risk of asphyxia (sleep death) is high when using gas heaters.
There have been many reports from doctors that sleeping with the heating on all night can cause your body to overheat much more quickly. The Sleep Charity advises that an ideal bedroom temperature is 16-18 degrees celsius. Temperatures over 24 degrees celsius can impact your sleep and cause restlessness.
Exposing skin to high heat and extreme warm temperature may cause burning of the epidermal layer and can induce dryness and rashes as well. Excessive use of heaters can also cause reduction in moisture levels. An exposure to this dry air leads to redness and rashes on the skin.
High temperatures, especially combined with sun exposure, can cause flare ups. Melasma. Hyperpigmentation disorders like melasma also worsen with heat. Melasma is characterized by irregular dark patches on the face and is often triggered by UV exposure from the sun.
The gentle heat caresses the skin, thawing the numbness that lingers from exposure to the frigid air. It's not just physical warmth. It's also a therapeutic embrace that seeps into the bones, unravelling the tension and stress that often accompany the Novembers, Decembers and Januarys.