Safe and warm - heating and electrical safety

With winter on us, it’s time to check those stored heaters and other appliances used to keep your house cosily warm.

Home heating

Tips for checking working condition:

• Start with a visual inspection. Electric cords should not be frayed or have any exposed wires. Check the alignment of plug pins and make sure there is no sign of any heat damage, eg discolouration or melting. Remove excess dust and clean your appliances with a recommended product.
• Check chimneys and flues both inside and outside to make sure that they are drawing properly. This prevents a build-up of dangerous fumes in the home. Have the chimney swept regularly and always use a child-proof fireplace screen.
• Make sure heaters and small appliances are properly ventilated. Leave a window or door ajar and make sure there’s a clear space around the heater.
• Never leave a portable space heater unattended, especially in a child’s play area. Make sure that it is a safe distance from curtains, furniture, clothes, papers or other flammable material.
• Don’t overload electrical sockets with extension cords. Use the correct size fuses. Don’t run wiring under rugs in front of windows or doors.
• Always hold the plug when removing your appliance from the power point.
• Never use extension leads permanently and never make an extension lead longer by joining a serious of shorter ones.
• Always turn your heater off before leaving the house or going to sleep.
• Unflued gas heaters consume air and release products from combustion. They can make the room stuffy if there is inadequate ventilation to let in fresh air. When an unflued room heater is installed, permanent vents must be fitted in the room.
• A well adjusted natural gas flame burns blue. A flame which continuously burns yellow indicates the need for servicing (some gas lights and decorative log fires are designed to burn safely with a yellow flame).
• If you smell gas inside your home, turn off all appliances and pilot lights and turn off the supply at the gas metre or cylinder. Open all doors and windows for ventilation and contact your gas supplier immediately. Neither natural gas nor LP Gas is poisonous or toxic, but if an area becomes filled with gas, it can cause nausea and/or dizziness due to lack of oxygen.

Electric blankets

Electric blankets should have been rolled or loosely folded in storage (as hard creases can cause damage to the internal electrical wiring). Before using again this winter, examine the blanket thoroughly. There should be no lumpiness or damage to the element due to creasing.

• Switch on the blanket and check for localised heating.
• Cover the electric blanket with an ordinary blanket to retain the heat and leave switched on at the highest setting for 10-15 minutes.
• Check that the electric blanket is heating evenly over the full surface with no localised hot spots. These indicate damage to the element. If you find any hot spots, signs of discolouration or scorch marks, the electric blanket should be discarded immediately.
• If an electric blanket is more than 5 years old, have it checked by the manufacturer.

An electric blanket should fit the mattress and be tied firmly by the tapes so it lays flat on the bed. Bunching or folding causes heat build-up as does piling clothing and bed clothes on the bed. An animal sleeping on the bed with an electric blanket can also have the same effect.

Sleeping with your electric blanket on is not recommended as the blanket may overheat from your body weight. Make sure you switch the blanket off after use; a timer will prevent it being left on for extended periods of time. Electric blankets have started fires when left unattended, or left on during the day. Finally, electric blankets should not be used with younger children or the aged.

Hot water – it burns

Cold weather means hot baths and hot drinks. Any hot liquid can cause a scald, and that hard-earned cuppa is one of the main offenders.

Two thirds of burns are from hot liquids. A child’s sensitive skin burns far more easily than an adult’s and a serious scald can mean a trip to hospital and possibly scarring. A severe scald can even kill. Most scald injuries occur to children under four, especially those aged between one and two years.

Common sense around children is the key to accident prevention. Indulging in a tea or coffee while children are asleep is one of the most simple prevention measures you can use. Make it a habit from the moment your children are born to keep hot drinks out of reach. Keep teapots, cups and kettles away from the edge of tables and benches.

The water from hot water taps can cause serious burns. Over 90% of hot tap water burns occur in the bathroom and the problem is the temperature of hot water.

• Most domestic hot water devices are set at 70 degrees C. At this temperature it takes less than half a second for a severe scald.
• At 60 degrees C it takes one second for hot water to cause third degree
• burns.
• At 50 degrees C it takes five minutes (the ideal safe maximum temperature).
• 40° C is the recommended maximum bathing temperature for young children.

It seems a small difference in temperature, but it can mean the difference between hospitalisation, skin grafts and scarring for life.

One of the best methods for lowering the temperature of hot water in your bathroom is to fit devices which mix hot and cold water, before it comes out of the tap.

• A tempering valve can be installed to deliver hot water at a reduced temperature to the bathroom. The tempering valve is accurate to within 5°C and needs to be installed by a plumber.
• A thermostatic mixing valve reduces the hot water temperature by delivering hot water at a fixed, safe temperature. It needs to be installed by a plumber.

There are other devices on the market designed to reduce the risk of scalding:

• While child resistant taps do not control hot water temperature they are a low cost method for reducing risks.
• Some single lever mixer taps feature a hot water limiter, which prevents the hot water being turned to full. They need to be installed by a plumber.
• An automatic flow reduction device will actually reduce the water flow, if the water gets hotter than a pre-set temperature.
• If your water heater has an adjustable thermostat, turning the temperature down is a cheap way to reduce the risk of burns. However, not all hot water heaters can be easily turned down.
• Most electric systems are not able to be adjusted by the home owner, but thermostats can be adjusted or replaced by a qualified trades-person.
• Most gas hot water heaters can be turned down, simply by turning the thermostat to between low and medium. Wait 24 hours then test the temperature of the water.
• Solar or slow combustion: Most of these systems cannot be adjusted. Consult the manufacturer.

Home safety checklist

Origin Energy's website provides an interactive home safety assessment which generates a report to help you identify any dangers around your home. Log on to Origin Energy. The website also contains a wealth of
home safety tips and hints to prevent electrical and gas fires and accidents.

Other sources

South Australian Government - Energy - information on gas and electricity safety issues

Kid Safe - comprehensive information on child safety.
 

This article was first published in Australian Family Magazine, June 2004. Updated July 2009.