Terracotta Heaters: A Clever Hack or a Catastrophic Hazard?

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WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOUR FURNACE GOES OUT?

I recently had my furnace go out on a frigid 3-degree evening. I was taking a nap, and woke up shaking in my bed, it was so cold.

Luckily for me, I was able to contact a friend who helped me fix it within a couple of hours. I also have a backup gas fireplace in my basement, so once I woke up and realized there was a problem, I turned that fireplace on until the furnace was working.

But! I've been seeing videos all over the internet about creating these 'Emergency Heaters' out of Terracotta pots and Crisco or tea candles.

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EMERGENCY HEAT SOURCE - YAY OR NAY?

All of the videos that I've seen promote this as being a heat source that can warm up a room; or not.

Regardless, this looks like one of the most dangerous ways to heat a space that I've ever seen! Do people do this? And is it safe to promote it? Have you tried this? How did it turn out?

EVERYTHING IN ME SCREAMS 'DON'T DO IT!'

I understand the concept. The idea is to put candles under a combination build of terracotta pots, as it distributes the heat much better than just lighting a candle. BUT! It has to be built correctly and can get very, very hot. If you don't constantly keep an eye on this, I don't think it's a good idea.

There are other ways to do this as well. Some videos show someone putting candles on a cookie sheet, with a stainless steel utensil holder in the center, and a big pot upside down on top of that. The pot eventually heats up and it would burn you if you touched it.

PETS AND CHILDREN

Since I have cats I can't imagine even giving this setup a chance. If you had small children, or even other people that live with you that don't know you've set up this flammable creation in your home.

A MESSAGE FROM ST CLOUD FIRE MARSHAL BRIAN KIFFMEYER

When in doubt, ask the experts right? I reached out to the St. Cloud Fire Department this morning and asked them about these videos and the use of this type of emergency heat. Here is what Brian Kiffmeyer, Fire Marshal with the St. Cloud Fire Department, had to say:

'Kelly, Thank you for reaching out regarding the use of terracotta pot and candle heaters being promoted as "emergency heaters."

I want to emphasize that while these DIY heaters may appear to offer a simple solution during emergencies, they pose significant fire and burn hazards. Candles are already a leading cause of residential fires, and combining them with a terracotta pot increases the risk. The pot can become extremely hot, presenting a severe burn risk, especially to children and pets. Furthermore, these heaters have no safety devices, and if tipped over, they can easily ignite the materials they come into contact with, starting a fire.

For these reasons, I strongly discourage the use of terracotta pot and candle heaters and recommend safer alternatives, such as UL-listed portable heaters or other properly designed heating equipment.

Our goal in fire prevention is always to prioritize safety, particularly during emergencies when stress levels are high, and safety measures can be overlooked. I appreciate your effort to raise awareness about this issue and help inform the public about safer practices.'

Best regards,

Brian Kiffmeyer
St Cloud Fire Department

Fire Marshal

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