Room heaters are a common way of keeping oneself warm during cold nights, especially in regions that have harsh winters. Although they are a great way of instant relief, there are several hidden dangers associated with keeping them on while sleeping that could affect your health, safety, and well-being. Many people tend to overlook the dangers associated with room heaters because of the warmth they produce, which is soothing to the body, but keeping them on while sleeping could lead to both short-term and long-term issues. Using a humidifier or a bowl of water in the room could help counter these dangers.

Risks of keeping a room heater on while you sleep

• Dry air can irritate your body

Room heaters work by heating the surrounding air, which at times leads to the evaporation of moisture in the air. This dry air can irritate your respiratory system, leading to drying of your throat, itchy eyes, dry lips, and a congested nose. For people suffering from asthma, allergies, and sinus issues, this irritation can be more serious. It is not uncommon to wake up with a cough, a congested nose, or a sore throat when you sleep in an overheated and dry room.

• Risk of carbon monoxide exposure

Fuel-burning heaters, such as gas, kerosene, or other fuel-burning heaters, especially unvented ones, may emit carbon monoxide (CO), a colorless and odorless gas that is very toxic. Inhaling carbon monoxide during sleep may cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, or even death.

Since carbon monoxide is odorless, it is a silent killer during the entire night. It is essential to ensure that the heater is vented and approved to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Another safety measure is to install a carbon monoxide detector in the bedroom.

• Increased fire hazard

Leaving a heater on when going to bed can be a potential fire hazard. This is because heaters can easily catch fire due to overheating, faulty wiring, or tipping over, especially when they are close to curtains, bedding, or furniture. One of the most hazardous types of fires is the one that occurs when people are asleep. This is because there is little time to react when a fire breaks out while people are sleeping.

• Disturbed sleep quality

If your bedroom is too warm, it can affect your body’s natural sleep cycle. When your body is too warm, it can cause you to be restless, sweat a lot, wake up often, and become dehydrated. This can cause you to wake up feeling tired and uncomfortable. Research has indicated that a room temperature of 18-22°C (64-72°F) can help you sleep better and have a more restful sleep.

• Dehydration and morning headaches

Being constantly subjected to warm and dry air can lead to dehydration. This is because the body is not able to regulate its temperature. As a result, people experience dehydration, which leads to headaches, dryness of the mouth, and tiredness in the morning. Children and the elderly are more prone to dehydration due to the fact that their bodies are not able to regulate temperatures effectively.

Practical safety tips for using room heaters

If it is unavoidable to use a room heater, the following safety measures should be taken to minimise health and safety risks:

• Switch off heaters before retiring to bed.
• Make sure that the room is well-ventilated to ensure constant fresh air circulation.
• It is advisable to set heaters to moderate temperatures instead of setting them to maximum heat.
• Use a humidifier or a bowl of water to keep the air moist.
• Do not use unvented or defective heaters.
• Keep a safe distance from bedding, curtains, furniture, and clothing.