Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in your home can make your life much less stressful, but when you use them the wrong way, they could pose noticeable health risks. You should protect appliances and ensure that they will not become dangers by following these home appliance safety suggestions from Freedom Appliance Repair.

The professional tips below help to prevent fires and injuries related to household appliances. That being said, hazards could still happen. In the event an appliance breaks or malfunctions and becomes dangerous, call a local appliance repair Fontana service.

Install GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations

Laundry rooms, kitchens, basements, bathrooms, garages and outdoor areas can besusceptible to dampness or dripping water. As you well know, electricity and moisture do not mix, therefore power cords should always be plugged into GFCI outlets.

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

If you don’t already have GFCI outlets in damp areas inside and around your house, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in Fontana. After that, for safety measures, heed the warnings of appliance manuals that note that they are not meant for outdoor areas.

Electrical Cords, Outlets & Electronics Far Away From Damp Areas

A lot of appliances are designed for the outdoors, such as barbecue grills, for example. If you make us of any electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers, power tools and others – ensure that all plugs and outlets are not wet. Weatherproof electronics will help with this, combined with GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are a Momentary Solution

Extension cords pose several risks, including:

The potential for loose connections that might result in sparks and start a fire.
The possibility of power inconsistencies that can damage the appliance.
Increased vulnerability to water penetration that could cause electrocution.
The potential for wires overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an insufficient extension cord is paired with a high-power appliance.

When choosing an extension cord for short-term use, ensure it is the right gauge for the home appliance in question. The lower the gauge, the greater the cord size. For instance, a household extension cord for a radio could have a 16-gauge cord where a bigger cord for a air conditioner unit requires a 12-gauge wire.

The length of the cord is also a factor. The longer the cord, the more electricity is lost enroute, something known as voltage drop. Short cords are advised for electric tools and outdoor equipment.

Read the Operating Manual for Any Type ofAppliance You Purchase

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

You will find out if your home’s wiring is enough to support the appliance. You might need to install a circuit to stop overloading any current ones.

You learn more about advanced features you might not otherwise have known about.
You understand if the new appliance is intended for outdoor use or not.

You avoid the extreme stress that can sometimes come from attempting to run a new home appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances When Not in Use

You are able to prevent unnecessary energy consumption by unplugging them when you aren’t operating them. The reason is small appliances often include LED lights, clocks and other energy-draining features during standby times.

Unplug TVs, monitors, internet routers, video game consoles, cellphone chargers and more to stop wasteful energy usage. But remember, it’s worthwhile to keep DVRs and similar electronics plugged in to prevent missing out on their automatic background features.

For even more tips on using appliances safely, or to hire a local appliance repair company, please contact Freedom Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can repair all name brand household appliances!

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