Tulsa Health Department Offers Tips On Heating Homes Properly During Winter Months

As temperatures continue to drop over the coming weeks - the Tulsa Health Department wants to remind folks of the importance of heating their home properly.

The Tulsa Health Department said heating your home or apartment properly is important because it can prevent fires and save a life.

Health leaders say heaters must warm living spaces to 65 degrees.

Tulsa health leaders discourage people from using space heaters but say if you are going to use them -- you should always plug the space heater directly into the wall outlet and keep it three feet from anything that can burn and on a hard floor surface.

They say space heaters should never be your primary source of heat.

Health leaders also say gas heaters must be approved and have required safety devices.

Chimneys and wood-burning stoves should be vented and cleaned and health leaders say you should never use a stove to heat your living space.

They said it's also important to have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the home.

The Tulsa Health Department said if anyone suspects their heater is unsafe they should call for an inspection.