Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside of your house can make life much less stressful, but when you operate appliances the wrong way, they could create noticeable risks. You should protect appliances and be sure they will not turn into hazards by following these household appliance safety tips from Vance Appliance Repair.

The tips in this post will help to prevent fires and injuries due to home appliances. That being said, hazards can still occur. If a home appliance has problems or malfunctions and becomes dangerous, call a professional appliance repair CITY.

Install GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations

Kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, bathrooms, mud rooms, garages and outdoor areas can be susceptible to possible dampness or dripping water. Of course, electricity and moisture do not mix, therefore electrical cords should be plugged into GFCI outlets.

This prevents electrocution by tripping the circuit when any interruptions in electricity arise.

If you do not already have GFCI outlets in wet locations around your home, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in CITY. Once that is done, for even more safety, follow the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that indicate they are not meant for outdoor use.

Electrical Wires, Outlets & Electronics Away From Damp Areas

A lot of home appliances are built for the outdoors, like gas and charcoal grills. If you use electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers, power tools and more – ensure that all of the cords and outlets are not wet. Weatherproof electronics can help with this, as do GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are Only a Temporary Option

Extension cords pose a lot of risks, this includes:

The likelihood of a loose connection that can cause sparks and a fire.
The possibility of power fluctuations that could ruin the appliance.
Increased susceptibility to water penetration that might cause electrocution.
The likelihood of cords overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an low-quality extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.

When determining an extension cord for limited-time use, be sure that it’s the right gauge for the electrical tool in question. The lower the gauge, the greater the size for the wire. For instance, a simple household extension cord for a garden tool will have a 16-gauge wire while a heavy-duty cord for a window air conditioner uses a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also important. The longer the cord, the more power is used up enroute, this is known as voltage drop. Short extension cords are advised for power tools and similar outdoor equipment.

Be Sure to Read the Operating Manual for Any Appliance You Purchase

It’s simple to guess that you know how to use a brand new dishwasher or washing machine without reading the operating manual, but consulting the manufacturer guidelines is important for a lot of reasons:

You will want to find out whether your house’s wiring is good enough to power the new appliance. You might have to install a circuit to stop overloading any current ones.

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

You don’t have the extreme stress that can sometimes come from attempting to start a appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances When Not Being Used

You are able to stop unnecessary energy use by unplugging small appliances when not in use. This is because small appliances sometimes include LED signals, timers and other energy-consuming features during standby times.

Unplug monitors, TVs, printers, modems, internet routers, game systems, phone chargers and more to cut back on unnecessary energy usage. But remember, it’s OK to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to not miss their automatic background functions.

For even more tips on how to use home appliances safely, or to call a local appliance repair company, please contact Vance Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can fix all name brand home appliances!

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