Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in your home make life much easier, but if you use household appliances the wrong way, they might create significant health risks. It is best to protect your appliances and make sure they won’t turn into dangers by adhering to these helpful household appliance safety recommendations from Tru Appliance Repair.

The tips in this article will help to prevent fires and injuries due to broken kitchen appliances. Even still, hazards could still occur. In the event a home appliance has issues or malfunctions and becomes a danger, hire a professional appliance repair.

GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations

Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, garages and outdoor areas are all susceptible to possible dampness or water. As you well know, electricity and moisture don’t go together, therefore electrical cords should always be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

This type of electrical outlet can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any interruptions in electricity occur.

If you don’t currently have GFCI outlets installed in wet rooms inside of your house, it is time to install them or call an electrician in Arizona. Once that is done, for additional safety measures, follow the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that note that they are not designed for outdoor use.

Electrical Wires, Electronics & Outlets Away From Water

A lot of appliances are designed for outdoor areas, like barbecue grills. If you use electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers, power tools and others – monitor that all of the cords and outlets are dry. Using weatherproof electronics help, as do GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are Only a Temporary Solution

An extension cord poses several noticeable risks, including:

  • The likelihood of loose connections that can create sparks and a fire.
  • The chance of power fluctuations that would damage the appliance.
  • Greater vulnerability to moisture penetration that can lead to electrocution.
  • The probability of wires overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an low-quality extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.

When determining an extension cord for limited-time use, be sure it is the appropriate gauge for the electrical appliance in question. The lower the gauge, the larger the cord size. For example, a simple household extension cord for a garden tool may have a 16-gauge cord whereas a larger cord for a AC unit uses a 12-gauge wire.

The length of the cord is also crucial. The longer the extension cord is, the more electricity is lost enroute, also referred to as voltage drop. Short extension cords are advised for power tools and outdoor equipment.

Be Sure to Read the Manual for Any Appliance You Purchase

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

You should find out if your home’s wiring is sufficient to support the appliance. You may have to install a circuit to prevent overloading any current ones.

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

You avoid the frustration that can come from trying to use a appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home if You Are Not Using Them

You are able to reduce unnecessary energy consumption by unplugging appliances when not in use. This is because small appliances include LED indicators, clocks and other energy-draining features standby times.

Unplug monitors, televisions, printers, modems, routers, game systems, smart phone chargers and more to cut back on unnecessary energy usage. Just remember, it is worthwhile to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to not miss their automatic background functions.

For additional tips on how to use home appliances safely, or to call a professional appliance repair service, please contact Tru Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can repair all popular household appliances!

OTHER RESOURCES:

Appliance Repair Cost
DIY Appliance Repair Tips
Repair or Replace Appliances
Refrigerator Parts