Winter Heating Hazards: Staying Safe While Staying Warm
As teh mercury dips below freezing, the urge to stay cozy indoors intensifies. While curling up by a warm fireplace or snuggling under blankets sounds idyllic, it’s crucial to remember that winter brings unique safety risks. Common heating methods, frequently enough resorted to during chilly months, can pose dangers such as fires or carbon monoxide poisoning.
Beware: Your Oven and Stove Can’t Double as a Furnace
Facing frigid temperatures, many New Yorkers turn to unconventional heating methods, like using their stove or oven. While understandable, experts caution against these practices.Jessica Bellinger, a Legal Aid attorney specializing in tenant rights, highlights the inherent danger, stating, “They do all these things that everyone knows are unsafe, but the alternative is being realy cold, so they do it anyway.”
Captain Michael Kozo, commanding officer of the Fire Safety Education Unit of the FDNY, emphasizes that besides the risk of fire, a greater danger lies in carbon monoxide poisoning. He warns, “A lot of things can go wrong. You don’t want to use any of these appliances to heat your home.”
Carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas, is released during the incomplete burning of fuels. Common culprits include malfunctioning gas-powered heating systems, stoves, furnaces, and boilers.Even in seemingly small doses, excessive carbon monoxide exposure can cause flu-like symptoms like nausea, dizziness, headache, and fatigue. In severe cases, it can lead to serious illness or even death.
Tragically, a Queens resident was hospitalized in critical condition in December 2023 due to carbon monoxide poisoning in her home, which lacked a carbon monoxide detector. The incident underscores the crucial importance of proper detection and prevention.
As carbon monoxide is invisible and undetectable without specialized equipment, ensuring functioning carbon monoxide and smoke detectors is paramount. Captain Kozo stresses,”without one,there’s no other way for you to detect that there’s carbon monoxide in your home.” While New York City mandates that property owners install carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, tenants bear the responsibility of regularly testing and maintaining their functionality.
Know Your Escape Route
If your carbon monoxide detector sounds,immediate action is crucial. Open all windows to ventilate your apartment, evacuate immediately, and call 911. During winter, seek refuge in a freind’s house, public library, or community center to stay warm while waiting for assistance.
The winter months can be particularly challenging for those relying on space heaters for warmth. According to the FDNY, these appliances are a leading cause of home heating fires, with a critically important spike in incidents during December, January, and Febuary.
“We see a big spike in home heating fires in December, January, February,” says a representative from the FDNY. “But space heaters definitely trump the others.”
To ensure safe use, experts emphasize the importance of selecting a heater with the seal of approval from a reputable testing laboratory like UL or ETL.
“You wanna look for one that has the seal of a qualified testing laboratory such as UL or ETL,” advises the FDNY representative.Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
A recent fire in Staten Island, leaving a baby in critical condition, serves as a stark reminder of the importance of space heater safety. The FDNY investigation revealed that the blaze, which erupted earlier this month, originated from a space heater plugged into a power strip. This incident highlights a crucial safety tip: never plug space heaters,or any heating or cooling appliances,into power strips or extension cords.
“Any item that heats or cools has to be plugged directly into the wall,” emphasizes fire safety expert Kozo. “That goes for not just space heaters, but microwaves, toasters, and air conditioners, too.” Kozo explains that extension cords and power strips have limitations when it comes to handling electrical current. Connecting a space heater to them can lead to overheating, potentially igniting a fire.
Adding to the danger, power strips frequently enough accommodate multiple appliances, further straining their capacity. “If you took a typical space heater and plugged it into a power strip, you’re already using more power than [the power strip] is rated to give,” Kozo warns.
Beyond proper electrical connections, safe space heater placement is paramount. Maintain a safe distance of at least three feet between the heater and anything flammable,including beds. ”A space heater needs space,” Kozo advises.
Positioning the heater on a stable, level surface in a low-traffic area helps prevent accidental tipping.Kozo recommends warming a room with the space heater before occupying it, turning it off and unplugging it fully before retiring for the night.”You should never run a space heater while you’re sleeping,” he stresses.
Similar precautions apply to electric blankets. Use them to pre-heat your bed rather than running them continuously throughout the night.Always ensure the blanket carries lab-tested certifications and adhere to the manufacturer’s storage instructions.
Another crucial aspect of staying warm efficiently involves minimizing heat loss. Keeping windows fully closed and removing window air conditioning units helps retain precious warmth. Hanging heavy curtains or even covering windows with shrink wrap can further minimize drafts.
Staying warm during cold weather can be a challenge, especially when relying on heating systems. Ensuring your radiators are functioning efficiently is crucial.
One simple yet often overlooked tip is to keep furniture away from radiators. Blocking airflow restricts heat distribution, rendering your radiator less effective.
When facing particularly frigid temperatures, layering clothing, sipping warm beverages, and enjoying warm meals can provide additional comfort. However, avoid relying on alcohol for warmth. While it might initially create a feeling of heat, alcohol actually lowers your core temperature, potentially putting you at risk.
Winter in New York City can be brutal. Luckily, tenants have legal protections to ensure a warm and habitable living space. During ”heat season,” which runs from October 1st to May 31st, landlords are legally obligated to maintain a minimum temperature in your apartment.
During daytime hours, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., if the outdoor temperature dips below 55 degrees, your apartment must remain at or above 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Even throughout the nighttime hours, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., your apartment must be kept at a agreeable 62 degrees, regardless of the weather outside.
Landlords aren’t just responsible for providing heat; they’re also required to ensure a constant supply of hot water for tenants year-round.
But what happens when your apartment feels colder than these legally mandated temperatures?
Navigating this situation can be tricky. Legal experts recommend taking a proactive approach. Start by reaching out to your landlord and expressing your concerns. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, consider contacting 311. Reporting a heat complaint will alert the Department of Housing Preservation, who will notify your landlord to rectify the situation.Continued non-compliance could result in a formal violation being issued to the landlord.
“The landlords and the city have a duty of care that they’re not abiding by,” explains Bellinder from Legal Aid. “The landlords are not maintaining the heat at a temperature that is comfortable for tenants,”
Keep in mind that legal proceedings to resolve violations can take months, often exceeding the duration of heat season.In many cases,the system feels more like a revolving door than a solution,with landlords seemingly treating fines as a cost of doing business.
To strengthen your case, document the temperatures in your apartment. Invest in your own thermometer and record the readings multiple times throughout the day and night. Preserve these records as evidence.
Remember, you have rights as a tenant, and staying warm is essential, especially during the coldest months of the year.
What are some safe alternatives to using a space heater for warmth during the winter months?
Based on the provided text and images, here’s a summarized and formatted version:
Title: Winter Heating Safety: Space Heaters, Precautions, and Alternatives
Image: 1.jpg”>Cast-iron radiator heating an apartment
A stark reminder of the importance of space heater safety is a recent fire in Staten Island, were a baby was left in critical condition. The fire originated from a space heater plugged into a power strip, highlighting the danger of using power strips or extension cords for high-wattage appliances.
to stay warm efficiently, minimize heat loss by keeping windows closed and insulated, and considering choice heating methods suitable for your living situation. Always prioritize safety when using space heaters and other heating appliances.
