Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in a home often make life much easier, but if you use household appliances unsafely, they could produce evident risks. It is important to care for your appliances and make sure they do not turn into dangers by adhering to these helpful household appliance safety suggestions from Green Appliance Repair.

The tips in this article can help prevent fires and injuries from household appliances. Even still, hazards might still happen. In the event an appliance has issues or begins to malfunction and becomes a danger, reach out to a professional appliance repair CITY.

Install GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations in Your Home

Laundry rooms, kitchens, entry ways, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages are all susceptible to possible moisture or dripping water. As you are well aware, electricity and moisture do not mix, therefore power cords should be plugged into GFCI outlets.

This prevents electrocution by tripping the circuit when any imbalances in electricity occur.

If you do not currently have GFCI outlets installed in damp areas inside and around your home, it is time to install them or call an electrician in CITY. Then, for safety, heed the warnings of certain appliance manuals that indicate an appliance is not meant for outdoor use.

Electrical Cords, Electronics & Outlets Far Away From Wet Areas

Several home appliances are specifically designed for the outdoors, like gas and charcoal grills. If you have electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers and freezers, electric tools and more – monitor that all of the outlets and plugs are dry. Weatherproof electronics help with this, in addition to GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are Only a Momentary Option

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

The chance for a loose connection that sometimes can lead to sparks and a fire.
The chance of power fluctuations that would damage the appliance.
Greater susceptibility to water penetration that can cause electrocution.
The chance of wires overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an insufficient extension cord is combined with a high-power appliance.

When choosing an extension cord for temporary use, make sure it is the appropriate gauge for the electrical tool in question. The smaller the gauge, the bigger the cord size. For example, a simple electrical extension cord for a radio could have a 16-gauge wire while a big cord for a air conditioner requires a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also crucial. The longer the cord is, the more electricity is used up on the way, something called voltage drop. Shorter cords are advised for electric tools and similar equipment.

Be Sure to Read the Manual for Any Appliance You Buy

It is obvious to guess that you know how to use your new dishwasher or washing machine without reading the manual, but consulting the manufacturer instructions is important for several reasons:

You should find out whether your home’s electrical wiring is sufficient to power the appliance. You might need to install a better circuit to stop overloading your current ones.

You learn more about complicated features you might not otherwise have known about.
You understand if the new appliance is OK for outdoor areas or not.

You avoid the extreme stress that can come from trying to start a home appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home When Not in Use

You can limit unnecessary energy consumption by unplugging small appliances when you aren’t operating them. This is because small appliances often include LED lights, timers and other energy-consuming features while in standby mode.

Unplug monitors, televisions, printers, modems, internet routers, video game consoles, smart phone chargers and more to cut back on wasteful energy use. But remember, it’s worthwhile to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to prevent missing out on their background functions.

For more tips on ways to use appliances safely, or to schedule a local appliance repair service, please contact Green Appliance Repair. We can repair all name brand household appliances!

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