Portable heaters can be an effective way to heat a room without heating the whole house or when the property doesn’t have the benefit of a central heating system, however they can also pose a serious fire hazard when not used carefully.   This is especially true when being used by people unfamiliar with a premises. Some general rules for Portable heaters Always use on a flat surface Leave at least 1 meter clearance to furniture and curtains. Buy one with a trip switch in case it gets knocked over (ie. By the dog). Never cover your heater or use to dry clothes. Never use a faulty heater. Types of Portable Heaters Oil filled radiators – Relatively low risk These are often on wheels and are quite heavy so less likely to be knocked over. They don’t have any exposed heating elements so are less likely to ignite anything.   They take a while to heat up, but retain the heat for longer.   They can have timers and thermostats to help control the heat. Electric Co...