As winter settles into West Tennessee, many families reach for space heaters to take the edge off cold bedrooms, drafty living rooms, or home offices. They’re convenient, affordable, and effective—but they also carry real risks when used improperly.
Recently, a local family in Hardin County lost their home to a fire caused by a space heater. Thankfully, no one was injured, but the house was a total loss. Incidents like this serve as an important reminder: space heaters demand respect and careful use.
At Haven Insurance Partners, our goal isn’t just to insure homes—it’s to help protect the people inside them. A few simple safety steps can make the difference between a cozy winter and a devastating loss.
Why Space Heaters Are a Common Fire Risk
Space heaters are one of the leading causes of home fires during winter months. Most fires don’t start because the heater is “defective”—they start because of placement, wiring, or unattended use.
Common causes include:
- Heaters placed too close to furniture, curtains, bedding, or clothing
- Use of extension cords or power strips not designed for high electrical loads
- Leaving heaters running overnight or while away from home
- Older units without modern safety features like tip-over shutoff
Space heaters pull a significant amount of electricity. In older homes especially, wiring may not be designed to handle that kind of continuous load, increasing the risk of overheating and fire.
Smart Space Heater Safety Tips
If you use a space heater, follow these best practices every time:
Keep a three-foot safety zone
Anything that can burn—furniture, blankets, papers, curtains—should stay at least three feet away.
Plug directly into the wall
Never use extension cords or power strips. Plug heaters directly into a wall outlet.
Turn it off when unattended
Always turn space heaters off when leaving the room or going to sleep.
Choose safer models
Look for units with tip-over protection, automatic shutoff, and certification from a recognized safety testing organization.
Use on stable surfaces only
Place heaters on flat, non-flammable surfaces—never on furniture or carpet where they can tip.
Keep kids and pets in mind
Heaters can cause burns or be knocked over accidentally.
Check smoke alarms regularly
Working smoke detectors provide critical early warning when seconds matter most.
A Note on Insurance and Prevention
From an insurance perspective, most fire claims involving space heaters are preventable. Fires don’t just damage property—they disrupt lives, displace families, and create stress long after the flames are out.
Insurance is there to help rebuild, but prevention is always better than recovery.
This winter, we encourage homeowners to take a few extra minutes to think through how heating devices are used in their home. Staying warm should never come at the cost of safety.
If you have questions about fire coverage, personal property limits, or how your homeowners policy responds in a loss, the team at Haven Insurance Partners is always here to help.
Stay warm. Stay safe. And let’s keep winter stories about comfort—not catastrophe.