Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside your house make your life easier, but when you operate household appliances unsafely, they could produce significant health risks. You should maintain appliances and make sure they don’t turn into dangers by adhering to these home appliance safety tips from Storm Appliance Repair.

The tips below will help to prevent fires and injuries from home appliances. That being said, hazards could still occur. In the event a home appliance breaks or starts to malfunction and becomes a danger, call a professional appliance repair.

GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations

Laundry rooms, kitchens, entry ways, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages are susceptible to moisture or dripping water. Of course, electricity and water don’t mix, therefore power cords and wires should be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

This particular type of outlet prevents electrocution by tripping the circuit when any interruptions in electricity arise.

If you do not have GFCI outlets installed in damp areas inside and around your home, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in CITY. Once that is done, for further safety, follow the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that note that they are not for outdoor areas.

Electrical Wires, Electronics & Outlets Far Away From Water

Some appliances are built for outdoor use, like barbecue grills. If you have any electrical appliances outdoors – including refrigerators, dishwashers, freezers and ice makers, power tools and others – be sure that all plugs and outlets are 100% dry. Using weatherproof electronics can help with this, in addition to GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are a Momentary Answer

An extension cord poses a lot of evident risks, this includes:

The potential for loose connections that might create sparks and start a fire.
The chance of power interruptions that will damage the appliance.
Increased susceptibility to water penetration that may cause electrocution.
The chance of cords overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an insufficient extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.

When determining an extension cord for temporary use, ensure that it’s the appropriate gauge for the home appliance in question. The smaller the gauge, the bigger the size for the wire. For example, a basic extension cord for a lamp might have a 16-gauge cord where a larger cord for a air conditioner unit requires a 12-gauge wire.

The length is also important. The longer the cord is, the more electricity is gone on the way, a phenomenon referred to as voltage drop. Shorter cords are advised for electric tools and similar outdoor equipment.

Always Be Sure to Read the Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Purchase

It is obvious to assume that you know how to use your brand new appliance without reading the manual, but reading the instructions is necessary for several reasons:

You will want to find out whether your home’s electrical wiring is sufficient to power the new appliance. You might have to install a circuit to stop overloading any existing ones.

You learn more about advanced features you would not have otherwise known.
You learn if the new appliance is safe for outdoor use or not.

You do not have the frustration that can sometimes come from attempting to use a appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home When Not Being Used

You can prevent unnecessary energy use by unplugging appliances when you aren’t operating them. The reason is small appliances often include LED indicators, clocks and other energy-draining features while in standby mode.

Unplug televisions, monitors, internet routers, video game systems, cellphone chargers and more to cut back on wasteful energy usage. Just remember, it is alright to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to prevent missing out on their automatic background functions.

For additional tips on using appliances safely, or to hire a professional appliance repair company, please contact Storm Appliance Repair. We can repair all name brand household appliances!

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