Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside of your house can make your life much easier, but when you use household appliances unsafely, they might pose evident health risks. It is important to care for your appliances and make sure they will not become dangers by adhering to these helpful appliance safety suggestions from Palmer Appliance Repair.

The professional tips in this article will help to prevent fires and injuries related to broken appliances. Even still, hazards might still happen. In the event an appliance has issues or starts to malfunction and becomes a safety risk, call a professional appliance repair.

Install GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations

Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages are susceptible to wetness or water. Of course, electricity and water do not mix, that means electrical cords should always be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

This special type of outlet can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any inconsistencies in power are detected.

If you don’t already have GFCI outlets installed in damp rooms inside and around your home, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in CITY. Once that is done, for further safety, be sure to heed the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that note that an appliance is not designed for outdoor areas.

Electrical Wires, Electronics & Outlets Away From Water

Some home appliances are specially manufactured for the outdoors, such as barbecue grills, for example. If you make us of electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers, power tools and others – ensure that all of the cords and outlets are not wet. Using weatherproof electronics help, along with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are a Momentary Answer

Extension cords pose a lot of risks, including:

The chance for a loose connection that could cause sparks and a fire.
The likelihood of power interruptions that would ruin the appliance.
Increased susceptibility to water penetration that might cause electrocution.
The odds of wires overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an insufficient extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.

When determining an extension cord for limited-time use, make sure it’s the correct gauge for the appliance in question. The lower the gauge, the greater the size for the wire. For example, a basic household extension cord for a garden tool will have a 16-gauge wire while a bigger cord for a window air conditioner uses a 12-gauge wire.

The length of the cord is also crucial. The longer the extension cord, the more electricity is gone enroute, a phenomenon known as voltage drop. Short cords are recommended for power tools and similar outdoor equipment.

Be Sure to Read the Manual for Any Appliance You Purchase

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

You will find out if your house’s electrical wiring is enough to power the appliance. You might have to install a circuit to prevent overloading any existing ones.

You learn more about complicated features you wouldn’t have otherwise known about.
You discover if the appliance is OK for outdoor areas or not.

You don’t have the extreme stress that can sometimes come from attempting to operate a appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home When Not Being Used

You can prevent unnecessary energy consumption by unplugging appliances when not in use. The reason is small appliances often include LED lights, clocks and other energy-consuming features standby mode.

Unplug TVs, monitors, internet routers, video game consoles, phone chargers and more to limit unnecessary energy use. Just remember, it is worthwhile to keep DVRs and similar electronics plugged in to prevent missing out on their automatic background features.

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

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