Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in a house can make life much less stressful, but if you use household appliances unsafely, they might pose noticeable health risks. It is best to protect your appliances and be sure they don’t turn into dangers by adhering to these home appliance safety suggestions from Sterling Appliance Repair.

The professional tips below help prevent fires and injuries related to broken appliances. However, hazards can still occur. In the event an appliance breaks or malfunctions and becomes dangerous, call a professional appliance repair.

Install GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations in a Home

Laundry rooms, kitchens, basements, bathrooms, outdoor areas and garages can be susceptible to possible dampness or dripping 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 when any interruptions in electricity are detected.

If you do not currently have GFCI outlets in wet locations around your home, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in CITY. Once that is done, for even more safety measures, follow the warnings of certain appliance manuals that indicate they are not designed for outdoor areas.

Wires, Outlets & Electronics Away From Water

A lot of appliances are designed for outdoor areas, like gas and charcoal grills, for example. If you make us of any electrical appliances outside – including refrigerators, dishwashers, freezers and ice makers, power tools and more – ensure that all cords and outlets are dry. Weatherproof electronics can help with this, along with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are Only a Temporary Option

An extension cord poses several noticeable risks, including:

The chance for loose connections that could result in sparks and a fire.
The possibility of power fluctuations that could break the appliance.
Greater susceptibility to moisture penetration that can result in electrocution.
The chance of cords overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.

When determining an extension cord for short-term use, make sure it is the right gauge for the home appliance in question. The smaller the gauge, the larger the cord size. For instance, a electrical extension cord for a lamp will have a 16-gauge cord whereas a larger cord for a air conditioner needs a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also a factor. The longer the extension cord, the more power is gone on the way, something called voltage drop. Shorter extension cords are advised for electric tools and similar outdoor equipment.

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

It’s simple to guess that you know how to operate a brand new dishwasher or washing machine without reading the manual, but reading the instructions is necessary for many reasons:

You will want to find out whether your home’s electrical wiring is good enough to power the appliance. You may need to install a new circuit to prevent overloading any current ones.

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

You avoid the stress that can come from attempting to use a new home appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home When Not Being Used

You are able to prevent unnecessary energy use by unplugging small appliances when you are not operating them. The reason is small appliances include LED indicators, timers and other features standby mode.

Unplug monitors, televisions, printers, modems, routers, game systems, phone chargers and more to reduce wasteful energy consumption. But remember, it’s a good idea to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to prevent missing out on their automatic background features.

For additional tips on how to use appliances safely, or to call a local appliance repair company, please contact Sterling Appliance Repair. We can repair all common home appliances!

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