Faulty heating systems cause fires and injuries that result in loss of life and property. Damages to property and people commonly spike during the winter months of December, January, and February. Heating system usage is highest during these months, leading to increased injuries.
Radiators are fire hazards if installed or operated incorrectly. Radiators can damage your items, property and even cause burns. Radiators have to be installed in the right spot in your space, maintained regularly, and kept away from easily flammable material.
The rest of this article discusses how electric radiators turn into fire hazards, what objects you can place close to your radiator, how different heating systems work, and their respective advantages and disadvantages.
How Radiators Turn Into Fire Hazards
Radiators tend to overheat when used over extended periods, regardless of the type of system. Invest in monthly, quarterly, or annual maintenance from a certified professional. Grime, dirt, and dust can settle in pipes if they aren’t opened up and flushed out thoroughly. This causes blockage of both air and water, reducing the amount of heat produced in joules per unit wattage.
If you notice signs of circuit malfunction or socket overheating, call a professional electrician immediately to check for causes of damage. Electrical systems, in general, are dangerous fire hazards when unmonitored for a long time.
Can Curtains Catch Fire From a Radiator?
Regardless of curtain fabric, radiators can set fire to curtains if they overheat. Flammable material, fuel, and electrical wiring are the perfect combination for a potential disaster. Although heat and steam expelled from an old-fashioned radiator don’t always cause fire hazards, it’s never good to have them around curtains or other flammable household objects.
These elements tend to dry out and harden fabric during extended radiator usage, making them easily flammable down the line. You could opt in to have your radiator fully insulated, but this results in decreased heating efficiency.
Your best bet is to place your radiator away from the curtains. Windows don’t bring in cold drafts. They let the hot air out. There’s also the option of shopping for curtains that cover the sill exactly up to the height of the radiator, thus avoiding direct contact.
Can a Radiator Set Paper on Fire?
Paper materials like notebooks, newspapers, books, tissues, and toilet rolls can easily catch on fire. Paper items catch on fire at about 750F, well above the typical heat range produced by steam. However, if you’re using an electric radiator, there are risks of short-circuiting and maintenance issues typically bought on by electrical fluctuation or vent blockage.
The risk of combustion, coupled with large stacks of paper is a definite fire hazard.
In general, it’s best to avoid anything made of paper close to your heat outlets.
How Close Can Things Be to a Radiator?
It’s hard to rearrange large items like furniture, especially if your apartment is compact. It’s practical to use up every bit of available square footage. It’s also quite tempting to have a slightly warm couch during the winter.
Plan your distances depending on the type of radiator and square footage. If you’re using a traditional gas radiator, the risk of combustion is quite low, as the heat and steam don’t set things on fire easily. You can place pieces of furniture and curtains closer than you would with an electric heater.
On the other hand, electric radiators pose a bigger fire hazard. It’s best not to place items like magazines, newspapers, and electronics close by. Bigger fires are caused by internal circuit malfunction or vent blockage. It’s best to keep furniture at least a foot away.
In most cases, you’re better off putting your things about 5 inches to a foot away from the radiator. Regardless of the heating system your property uses, always keep children and pets away from them to avoid burns or other injuries.
General Radiator Fire Hazard Safety Tips
- Keep your radiator as far away from flammable materials like beddings, clothes, curtains, drapes, paper, etc.
- Circuit malfunction is electric radiators can turn into a fire hazard if they aren’t checked up on every three months. Make sure the plugs and sockets are working fine.
- Plug your electric radiator into the wall directly instead of using an extension cord, which might lead to overheating.
- Use good radiant barriers like insulation foil to insulate your radiator properly.
- For a pipe heating system, invest in regular maintenance.
- In case of tipping over or overheating, make sure the radiator has automatic switch-off features.
- Steam heaters tend to increase moisture in closed spaces, which might damage your items or the property over long-term usage.
- Always switch off your radiator when you aren’t using it. This saves up on electricity and prevents overheating.
- Be mindful to avoid injury or burns while moving around the radiator’s heat outlets.
How Do Radiators Work?
Radiators work on the principle of heat transfer through radiation, convection, and conduction.
They work just like an engine that discharges heat. Burn a type of fuel such as coal, gas, thermal fluids, aluminum alloys, etc., to heat a given storage or space.
Types of radiators depend on the heat source, the conducting mechanism, and the dissipation system. The most popular radiator on the market used to be the steam version, available in different systems like freestanding iron, baseboard, and ceramic.
While these variants are still popular among consumers, newer and improved models have taken over.
Common Types of Radiator Systems
The most commonly used types of radiators are either gas-fueled or electric. Both variants use a combination of convection and radiation to generate heat.
- Electric radiators are relatively easier to run, repair, and maintain.
- For gas radiators, the central furnace is crucial for the functioning of the entire system. Damages to the heating system can disrupt heat dissipation in all your rooms or spaces.
Gas Central Heating Systems
Gas radiators use a central heating furnace that burns fuel and heats water running through its pipes. The hot water then warms up the cold air traveling in the radiator channels.
This results in warm air dissipation through the ceiling, wall, and baseboard heating vents.
The operation cost is relatively low when compared to electric radiators. Maintenance and customization can become an issue with certain properties.
Temperature control on central systems like gas radiators gets trickier the larger your property is. Different areas or rooms of your property might get draughty or sunny, depending on the location and weather.
A centralized system becomes inefficient in this case, as custom temperature control for each room or space is not an option. Hiring a plumber every time something goes wrong increases maintenance costs.
Electric Radiators
Electric radiators, unlike traditional pipe heaters, use standalone units powered by electricity.
Most of the heat generated by electric radiators is due to convection. The rest dissipates in the form of radiation.
Instead of regular gas, electric radiators use custom-made aluminum or thermodynamic fluids (thermal fluids) that expand and contract on heating. Electric thermostats control the temperature and other custom settings.
The operating costs of a centralized gas system can get cumbersome in larger properties like villas, mansions, office spaces, etc. In these cases, a switch over to electric heating systems is feasible.
Consider the size of your property, the wattage of your heater, your maintenance budget, and day-to-day operating costs like gas and electricity tariffs in your location before picking between the two.
Electric heaters don’t require as much maintenance as traditional gas-fueled systems.
They’re great in small spaces too, if you don’t mind shelling out for electricity.
Radiators have several disadvantages too. Overheating and loud operation noise can cause issues when unchecked. Constant airflow is required to keep certain variants of radiators functioning, making them unsuitable for closed spaces.
Conclusion
Radiators are dangerous fire hazards due to several reasons. When using heating systems, always make sure you take the right precautions to prevent damage.Whether your radiator is a fire hazard depends on several factors such as the system, regular maintenance, and where you place objects inside your space.
Steve Rajeckas is an HVAC hobbyist with an avid interest in learning innovative ways to keep rooms, buildings, and everything else at the optimal temperature. When he’s not working on new posts for Temperature Master, he can be found reading books or exploring the outdoors.