When NOT to Use Electric Blankets

heated blanketUnder normal circumstances, electric blankets are a perfectly safe and inexpensive source of supplemental heat that can help keep you warm throughout the winter. When used at night in place of regular blankets, they allow you to turn your thermostat down several degrees without sacrificing any warmth or comfort. This green practice is not only good for your utility bills, but also for the environment.

Surprisingly, however, several myths about the supposed “dangers” of heated blankets are still floating around out there. For instance, some people believe that these products pose a major fire hazard or emit an electromagnetic field to rival that of the mysterious island from Lost. But the low-voltage wiring used in manufacturing today’s blankets has reduced the fire hazard to virtually nil, while the EMFs generated by a typical blanket is no greater than any other electrical appliance in your home.

Nevertheless, there are a few special cases where you should NOT use electric blankets. Some of these include:

  • When there are pets in your home that could chew or claw through the wiring
  • When you have nerve damage from diabetes or another medical condition that prevents you from sensing heat
  • When you are in the late stages of pregnancy and are worried about raising your body temperature too high

As you can see, the risks of using electric blankets are extremely limited in scope and are due to external rather than internal causes. This means most people will never have to worry about any ill effects from these products.

Now that you know how safe heated blankets are, you can visit CozyWinters.com to pick out the latest design for your bedroom, living room, or guest room.