Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside of a house make your life easier, but when you operate household appliances the wrong way, they might produce significant health risks. It is best to protect your appliances and ensure that they don’t become hazards by following these helpful home appliance safety suggestions from Pace Appliance Repair.

The tips below will help prevent fires and injuries from kitchen appliances. However, hazards could still occur. If a home appliance has issues or begins to malfunction and becomes dangerous, reach out to a professional appliance repair CITY.

Install GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations in Your Home

Kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, bathrooms, mud rooms, garages and outdoor areas can be susceptible to wetness or water. Of course, electricity and water do not mix, that means electrical cords should always be plugged into GFCI outlets.

This can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit if any interruptions in power are detected.

If you do not have GFCI outlets in damp areas inside of your house, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in CITY. Then, for even more safety measures, follow the warnings of appliance manuals that indicate they are not designed for outdoor areas.

Electrical Cords, Outlets & Electronics Away From Water

Several home appliances are specifically manufactured for outdoor use, like gas and charcoal grills, for example. If you make us of any electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers, electric tools and others – monitor that all of the outlets and plugs are dry. Weatherproof electronics help with this, as do GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are a Temporary Solution

An extension cord poses many noticeable risks, including:

The likelihood of loose connections that could cause sparks and start a fire.
The chance of power inconsistencies that would break the appliance.
Greater susceptibility to water penetration that may lead to electrocution.
The potential for wires overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an inadequate 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 electrical equipment in question. The smaller the gauge, the larger the size for the cord. For instance, a basic electrical extension cord for a garden tool could have a 16-gauge wire whereas a big cord for a air conditioner unit needs a 12-gauge wire.

The length of the cord is also a factor. The longer the cord is, the more power is used up enroute, this is known as voltage drop. Shorter extension cords are advised for power tools and similar equipment.

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

It’s easy to assume that you know how to use your brand new appliance without consulting the operating manual, but reading the guidelines is important for a lot of reasons:

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

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

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

Unplug Small Appliances When Not Being Used

You are able to reduce unnecessary energy usage by unplugging them when you aren’t operating them. The reason is small appliances sometimes include LED signals, clocks and other energy-consuming features during standby times.

Unplug TVs, computer monitors, routers, game systems, cellphone chargers and more to cut back on wasteful energy use. Just remember, it is OK to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to prevent missing out on their background features.

For extra tips on ways to use appliances safely, or to call a professional appliance repair service, please contact Pace Appliance Repair. Our technicians can fix all popular home appliances!

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