Space heaters offer great value, but it’s crucial to follow basic safety rules when operating them. Accidentally leaving your heater on at work overnight can cause significant problems, such as fires, electrical damage, and scorching.
If you accidentally leave the heater on at work, you should turn it off and check it for damages. Leaving a heater unattended can be dangerous and damaging to your workplace, so it’s critical to take care of the issue promptly. Also, setting a reminder can help you prevent future problems.
This article explains the best possible course of action to follow if you accidentally leave your heater on at work. I’ll detail what you need to do when you’ve left a heater on but are still at work and what to do when you’ve already left the office.
Don’t Panic
That sudden moment when you realize that you left your heater unattended can bring on a whole new level of panic, but if this has happened to you, don’t get too worried.
Remembering that the heater’s still on and taking steps to prevent damage is all it takes to remedy the problem.
Calculate How Long the Heater Has Been On
First, remember when you last turned the heater on and estimate how long it’s been running.
If it’s been running all day, it’s a good idea to devise a solution for turning it off. However, if it’s only been an hour or so, you have plenty of time to get back to the heater and turn it off before it becomes a safety risk.
Turn Off the Heater
Turning off the heater can save you a lot of stress and damage to your office. So, I recommend you act on the problem as soon as possible. There are several measures you can take to achieve the above goal, such as:
- Call someone at work to check for you. If there is someone at work, they can help you turn the heater off to avoid safety hazards.
- Going back to the office. If you can’t get in touch with anyone, you may want to consider going back to work to turn the heater off yourself. Even if your workplace is a long distance from you, returning to turn it off will be worth it. After all, no one wants to be the reason that their office got burned down!
- Turn it off remotely if you have that capability. Doing this is only possible if the heater in question is a smart device.
If you need to turn the heater off remotely, you can do so by using the following:
- A smart thermostat: With a smart thermostat, you can access your heater from anywhere, provided you have an internet connection. First, open the app or website associated with your thermostat, and find the “Off” button. Once you click that, it will turn your heater off.
- A smart plug and a smartphone: A smartphone can only be applicable when your room heater is plugged into the smart plug. In this case, you’ll have to use your smartphone to control the plug.
If none of the above options are available, you may have to wait until you can get back to work to resolve the problem. In the meantime, try to relax as you devise a solution that suits your situation.
Assess the Situation to Identify Possible Damages
When you get back to your office assess the situation to see if any damage has been done.
If the heater was on for a short period, there is likely no cause for concern. However, if the heater was on for a long time, you may want to check for damages. If you see any damage, you should report it to the appropriate personnel immediately.
Then, open the window to let some fresh air into the room. If the room is still warm, you can turn on a fan to help cool it down.
Avoid Leaving the Heater on in the Future
You can avoid leaving the heater on by simply making a note of it in your work schedule or setting a reminder on your phone.
If the heater has a timer, you can set it to turn off after a certain amount of time. Most of the best models of heaters come with automatic shut-off. These features help guard against overheating and fires, making them a safer choice for a work environment.
Turning off the primary power source at the breaker box or switch is another option that will ensure that the heater doesn’t continue to warm up your workplace. You can safely leave the power source off until you’re ready to use the heater again.
Essentially, with a bit of planning, you can avoid this stressful situation altogether!
Final Remarks
If you accidentally leave a heater on at work, you should try to turn it off using different approaches depending on where you are. Among the actions you can take, it is critical to find some way to turn the heater off before it causes damage. These measures can help you resolve the problem as soon as you realize your heater is still on.
