Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in your house can make your life easier, but when you operate appliances the wrong way, they could pose noticeable risks. It is important to protect appliances and make sure they won’t become hazards by adhering to these home appliance safety recommendations from Fox Appliance Repair.

The professional tips in this post help to prevent fires and injuries from broken kitchen appliances. That being said, hazards can still happen. In the event a home appliance breaks or malfunctions and becomes a safety concern, hire a professional appliance repair Pueblo.

GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations in Your Home

Kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, bathrooms, outdoor areas and garages are susceptible to dampness or dripping water. Of course, electricity and water don’t go together, so electrical cords should always be plugged into GFCI outlets.

This special type of electrical outlet can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit if any imbalances in electricity are detected.

If you don’t already have GFCI outlets in wet locations inside and around your house, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in Pueblo. Then, for safety, you will want to heed the warnings of appliance manuals that note that they are not designed for outdoor use.

Electrical Cords, Electronics & Outlets Away From Water

Many home appliances are specially designed for outdoor areas, like gas and charcoal grills. If you use any electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers, power tools and more – monitor that all plugs and outlets are 100% dry. Using weatherproof electronics will help, as do GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are a Temporary Solution

An extension cord poses a lot of risks, this includes:

• The likelihood of loose connections that can cause sparks and start a fire.
• The chance of power interruptions that may ruin the appliance.
• Increased vulnerability to moisture penetration that might lead to electrocution.
• The potential for cords overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an insufficient extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.

When determining an extension cord for temporary use, be sure it’s the appropriate gauge for the electrical tool in question. The lower the gauge, the larger the wire size. For example, a extension cord for a lamp might have a 16-gauge cord whereas a longer cord for a AC unit needs a 12-gauge wire.

The length is also crucial. The longer the extension cord, the more electricity is lost on the way, something known as voltage drop. Short extension cords are advised for power tools and similar outdoor equipment.

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

It’s obvious to guess that you know how to operate your brand new appliance without consulting the manual, but consulting the manufacturer instructions is necessary for a lot of reasons:

You should find out if your house’s wiring is good enough to support the new appliance. You might have to install a circuit to stop overloading any existing ones.

You learn more about complicated features you would not have otherwise have known about.
You learn whether the appliance is intended for outdoor locations or not.

You avoid the extreme frustration that can sometimes come from trying to operate a new home appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances When Not in Use

You can stop unnecessary energy usage by unplugging appliances when you aren’t using them. The reason is small appliances include LED indicators, clocks and other energy-consuming features during standby times.

Unplug televisions, monitors, routers, game consoles, phone chargers and more to stop wasteful energy consumption. Just remember, it’s alright to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to not miss their automatic background functions.

For more tips on using home appliances safely, or to call a local appliance repair service, please contact Fox Appliance Repair. We can fix all name brand home appliances!

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