Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in your house make your life much less stressful, but if you use appliances the wrong way, they could create evident health risks. You should care for appliances and ensure that they do not become hazards by following these appliance safety recommendations from Anderson’s Appliance Repair.

The professional tips below help to prevent fires and injuries related to broken home appliances. However, hazards might still happen. If an appliance has problems or starts to malfunction and becomes dangerous, reach out to a professional appliance repair.

Install GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations in a Home

Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages can be susceptible to possible moisture or dripping water. As you well know, electricity and moisture don’t go together, so power cords and wires should always be plugged into GFCI outlets.

This type of electrical outlet can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any interruptions in electricity arise.

If you don’t have GFCI outlets in damp locations inside of your house, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in CITY. Once that is done, for additional safety, you will want to heed the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that indicate they are not designed for outdoor use.

Electrical Cords, Outlets & Electronics Away From Water

Some home appliances are specifically manufactured for outdoor areas, like barbecue grills, for example. If you make us of electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers and freezers, electric tools and others – be sure that all of the outlets and plugs are 100% dry. Weatherproof electronics will help, as do GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are Only a Momentary Answer

An extension cord poses several risks, including:

The likelihood of a loose connection that sometimes can result in sparks and cause a fire.
The likelihood of power inconsistencies that may damage the appliance.
Greater vulnerability to moisture penetration that could result in electrocution.
The odds of cords overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.

When choosing an extension cord for temporary use, make sure that it is the right gauge for the home appliance in question. The smaller the gauge, the greater the size for the wire. For instance, a electrical extension cord for a radio will have a 16-gauge cord whereas a bigger cord for a AC unit requires a 12-gauge wire.

The length is also crucial. The longer the extension cord, the more electricity is lost enroute, this is referred to as voltage drop. Short extension cords are good for power tools and similar outdoor equipment.

Be Sure to Read the Operating Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Buy

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

You will want to find out if your home’s wiring is sufficient to power the appliance. You may have to install a new circuit to prevent overloading any current ones.

You learn more about features you wouldn’t have otherwise have known about.
You discover if the new appliance is safe for outdoor areas or not.

You don’t have the extreme frustration that can come from attempting to operate a home appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances When Not in Use

You are able to stop unnecessary energy usage by unplugging them when not in use. This is because small appliances often include LED signals, clocks and other energy-consuming features while in standby times.

Unplug TVs, monitors, internet routers, video game systems, cellphone chargers and more to limit unnecessary energy use. But remember, it’s alright to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to not miss their background features.

For additional tips on ways to use appliances safely, or to hire a professional appliance repair service, please contact Anderson’s Appliance Repair. We can fix all name brand household appliances!

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