Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside of a house often make life much easier, but if you use them incorrectly, they might pose evident health risks. You will want to protect your appliances and make sure they won’t become hazards by following these home appliance safety tips from Finch Appliance Repair.

The professional tips below help prevent fires and injuries from broken appliances. Even still, hazards can still happen. If a home appliance breaks or malfunctions and becomes dangerous, hire a professional appliance repair CITY.

GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations

Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages are all susceptible to possible dampness or water. Of course, electricity and moisture do not mix, that means power cords should be plugged into GFCI outlets.

This can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any interruptions in electricity are detected.

If you don’t have GFCI outlets in wet rooms inside and around your house, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in CITY. Once that is done, for safety measures, follow the warnings of appliance manuals that note that an appliance is not for outdoor use.

Wires, Electronics & Outlets Away From Damp Areas

Quite a few home appliances are built for outdoor areas, such as charcoal and gas grills, for example. If you make us of any electrical appliances outdoors – including refrigerators, dishwashers, ice makers and freezers, electric tools and more – be sure that all plugs and outlets are not wet. Weatherproof electronics will help, along with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are Only a Temporary Solution

Extension cords pose several potential risks, this includes:

The likelihood of loose connections that might cause sparks and cause a fire.
The chance of power fluctuations that would ruin the appliance.
Greater vulnerability to moisture penetration that could cause electrocution.
The chance of cords overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an insufficient extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.

When choosing an extension cord for temporary use, ensure that it’s the right gauge for the appliance in question. The lower the gauge, the bigger the size for the wire. For example, a simple extension cord for a radio may have a 16-gauge wire where a bigger cord for a window air conditioner needs a 12-gauge wire.

The length is also a factor. The longer the cord is, the more power is gone on the way, this is referred to as voltage drop. Short cords are recommended for power tools and outdoor equipment.

Be Sure to Read the Manual for Any Appliance You Purchase

It’s obvious to assume that you know how to use your new washing machine or dishwasher without consulting the manual, but consulting the manufacturer guidelines is important for several reasons:

You should find out if your home’s wiring is sufficient to support the new appliance. You may need to install a circuit to prevent overloading your existing ones.

You learn more about complicated features you might not otherwise known.
You discover if the appliance is OK for outdoor use or not.

You don’t have the extreme frustration that can sometimes come from trying to start a new home appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home if You Are Not Using Them

You can stop unnecessary energy consumption by unplugging small appliances when you aren’t operating them. The reason is small appliances sometimes include LED lights, timers and other energy-draining features standby mode.

Unplug TVs, computer monitors, internet routers, video game systems, cellphone chargers and more to limit wasteful energy usage. But remember, it’s worthwhile to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to not miss their background functions.

For more tips on ways to use home appliances safely, or to hire a local appliance repair company, please contact Finch Appliance Repair. Our technicians can fix all popular home appliances!

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