Do not ever leave the heater unattended. Avoid the carbon monoxide poisoning by turning off the heater and unplugging it before leaving the room or going to the bed.
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.
Never leave a space heater unattended. Turn it off when you're leaving a room or going to sleep, and don't let pets or children play too close to a space heater. Space heaters are only meant to provide supplemental heat and should never be used to warm bedding, cook food, dry clothing or thaw pipes.
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.
The survey revealed that nearly half (46%) of people who sleep with the heating on overnight wake the following morning feeling ill with over a third (37%) suffering from a headache, dry mouth, and dehydration (20%) or “generally bunged-up” (18%).
Stay hydrated and take antihistamines, if needed
Lizarzaburu recommends drinking plenty of fluids to keep your throat and nasal passages hydrated. "You can also use a saline nasal spray,” he adds.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than 1,700 residential fires every year are associated with the use of space heaters, resulting in more than 80 deaths and 160 injuries nationally.
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.
The duration for which you can leave a space heater running depends on the time of day and your specific needs. During the Day: It's safe to leave your heater on for 6-8 hours if you're in the room. If you're busy or moving between rooms, consider using a timer to automatically shut it off after a few hours.
Sleeping with a room heater on in a closed room can increase carbon monoxide levels, reduce oxygen, and disrupt blood flow to the brain, potentially leading to brain hemorrhage or death.
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.
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.
Most home heating deaths happened because a space heater was too close to furniture, clothing, mattresses, or bedding. Make sure your heater is at least three feet from anything that can burn.
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.
This can “cause headaches, fatigue and just not feeling right”, Cowl says. Meanwhile, warm spaces can cause your heart rate to decrease and make you feel less energetic, Durant explains. Heated air is also dry, which can lead to dehydration.
Portable Heaters
Always plug electric space heaters directly into a wall outlet and never into an extension cord or power strip, to prevent overloading and causing a fire. Never leave portable heaters on while sleeping.
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.
Long-term use of heaters in enclosed spaces can be hazardous because it increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can lead to headaches, nausea, dizziness, and weakness.
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.
“Oil-filled space heaters are considered safer than others because they don't have exposed heating elements,” Roberson says. This heater is attractive and quiet, and it heated my bedroom like a champ.
The most significant downfall of indoor heating is that it causes the air to dry out. Our lungs have to stay moist in order to function properly. Exposure to dry air for a prolonged period of time can cause wheezing, shortness of breath, and other respiratory problems.