Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside a home make your life much less stressful, but if you operate appliances incorrectly, they might produce evident risks. It is best to care for appliances and ensure that they do not turn into dangers by adhering to these helpful household appliance safety suggestions from Remedy Appliance Repair.

The tips below help to prevent fires and injuries due to appliances. Even still, hazards could still happen. If a home appliance breaks or malfunctions and becomes dangerous, reach out to a professional appliance repair Central California.

Install GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations

Laundry rooms, kitchens, entry ways, basements, bathrooms, outdoor areas and garages are susceptible to moisture or water. As you are well aware, electricity and water do not mix, therefore electrical cords and wires should always be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

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

If you don’t have GFCI outlets in damp areas inside of your house, it is time to install them or call an electrician in Central California. After that, for further safety, heed the warnings of appliance manuals that indicate they are not meant for outdoor use.

Wires, Outlets & Electronics Away From Water

Many appliances are specifically built for the outdoors, like gas and charcoal grills. If you make us of electrical appliances outside – including refrigerators, dishwashers, ice makers and freezers, power tools and more – ensure that all cords and outlets are not wet. Using weatherproof electronics help, combined with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are a Momentary Option

An extension cord poses several potential risks, this includes:

• The chance for loose connections that might result in sparks and a fire.
• The possibility of power interruptions that will ruin the appliance.
• Greater susceptibility to moisture penetration that may lead to electrocution.
• The potential for cords overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.

When determining an extension cord for temporary use, ensure it’s the right gauge for the electrical appliance in question. The lower the gauge, the larger the cord size. For instance, a basic electrical extension cord for a radio may have a 16-gauge cord where a heavy-duty cord for a AC unit uses a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also a factor. The longer the extension cord, the more power is gone enroute, something known as voltage drop. Short cords are advised for electric tools and equipment.

Read the Operating Manual for Any Appliance You Purchase

It’s obvious to guess that you know how to operate your new washing machine or dishwasher without consulting the manual, but consulting the manufacturer instructions is necessary for many reasons:

You should find out whether your house’s electrical wiring is good enough to power the appliance. You might need to install a better circuit to prevent overloading any existing ones.

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

You don’t have the frustration that can sometimes come from trying to start a appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances When Not Being Used

You are able to limit unnecessary energy consumption by unplugging them when not in use. This is because small appliances often include LED lights, timers and other energy-draining features standby times.

Unplug televisions, monitors, internet routers, game systems, phone chargers and more to cut back on wasteful energy consumption. Just remember, it’s OK to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to prevent missing out on their automatic background functions.

For even more tips on using home appliances safely, or to hire a local appliance repair service, please contact Remedy Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can repair all major home appliances!

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