Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside a home make your life much easier, but if you operate appliances unsafely, they might pose evident risks. It is important to maintain your appliances and be sure they don’t become hazards by adhering to these helpful household appliance safety tips from Dawson’s Appliance Repair.

The professional tips in this post help prevent fires and injuries from appliances. Even still, hazards can still happen. If a home appliance has problems or malfunctions and becomes dangerous, reach out to a professional appliance repair CITY.

Install GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations

Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages can be susceptible to possible wetness or water. As you are well aware, electricity and moisture do not mix, so electrical cords and wires should always be plugged into GFCI outlets.

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

If you don’t have GFCI outlets installed in wet rooms inside and around your house, it is time to install them or call an electrician in CITY. Then, for additional safety, follow the warnings of appliance manuals that note that a household appliance is not designed for outdoor use.

Wires, Outlets & Electronics Away From Water

Many appliances are specifically built for outdoor use, such as gas and charcoal grills, for example. If you have electrical appliances outdoors – including refrigerators, dishwashers, freezers and ice makers, power tools and others – ensure that all plugs and outlets are 100% dry. Weatherproof electronics can help, in addition to GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are Only a Temporary Option

An extension cord poses several noticeable risks, this includes:

The potential for loose connections that might result in sparks and start a fire.
The likelihood of power interruptions that will damage the appliance.
Greater vulnerability to moisture penetration that might cause electrocution.
The odds of cords overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.

When choosing an extension cord for limited-time use, make sure it is the right gauge for the electrical appliance in question. The lower the gauge, the bigger the size for the cord. For instance, a extension cord for a lamp could have a 16-gauge wire while a heavy-duty cord for a air conditioner unit needs a 12-gauge wire.

The length of the cord is also important. The longer the extension cord is, the more electricity is used up enroute, a phenomenon known as voltage drop. Short cords are recommended for electric tools and similar equipment.

Read the Operating Manual for Any Appliance You Purchase

It is easy to assume that you know how to use your new dishwasher or washing machine without consulting the operating manual, but consulting the instructions is important for many reasons:

You will find out whether your house’s electrical wiring is sufficient to support the new appliance. You may have to install a new circuit to prevent overloading your current ones.

You learn more about features you would not have otherwise have known about.
You discover if the new appliance is safe for outdoor locations or not.

You avoid the frustration that can sometimes come from trying to start a new home appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home When Not in Use

You can limit unnecessary energy usage by unplugging appliances when not in use. This is because small appliances sometimes include LED indicators, clocks and other features during standby times.

Unplug monitors, TVs, modems, printers, internet routers, game consoles, smart phone chargers and more to stop unnecessary energy consumption. Just remember, it is a good idea to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to not miss their automatic background features.

For extra tips on ways to use home appliances safely, or to schedule a local appliance repair company, please contact Dawson’s Appliance Repair. Our technicians can fix all name brand household appliances!

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