Chicago Living Tip No. 19
a leading cause of apartment fires in Chicago is the use of the space heater. don’t ever buy one. if you already have one–or more–get rid of them. right now.
then call the gas company and make arrangements to have the amount of your bills spread over 12 months so you don’t suddenly receive a huge statement. better yet, when apartment hunting, rent one with radiator heat, usually advertised as "heat included" in the classifieds.
click here for information on Peoples Energy’s Budget Payment Plan for residential accounts.
December 13th, 2004 - 7:00 am
Chicago Living Tips
Chicago Living Tips
Wouldn’t you think that they’d make those things safer by now? I used to have an electric space heater that I used in the basement…worked okay for me but then again, I was surrounded by concrete on the floor and walls. I can see how they’re dangerous because it wouldn’t take much to knock one over.
December 13, 2004 7:44 am
Those things have always scared me.
December 13, 2004 11:52 am
yeah, space heaters are dangerous. having that said, i still use the crappy wall panel ones that are also supposed to be a fire hazard. everything in my house is electric, so i sort of just have to use them. gar.
wow, that’s really nice that you can pay the gas bill in installments. but is it with interest?
December 13, 2004 2:11 pm
That is a very good tip. Those things will kill you. Now if you could just get the parents of toddlers to make sure that they have strong screens in their windows (so the kids don’t fall out, like they do every year) . . .
December 13, 2004 10:15 pm
right, you’d think they’d make them safer these days. my parents had one that looked like a radiator and it didn’t have any of those scary red coils exposed. i don’t know if it was safer, but the more common type resembles a toaster cut in half! it just looks *wrong*!
December 17, 2004 2:22 pm