Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in a home can make life much less stressful, but if you operate appliances unsafely, they might create evident risks. It is best to maintain appliances and ensure that they don’t turn into dangers by following these household appliance safety recommendations from Achieve Appliance Repair.

The tips in this post help to prevent fires and injuries from broken household appliances. However, hazards might still occur. If an appliance has problems or malfunctions and becomes a safety issue, reach out to a local appliance repair Arlington.

Install GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations

Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages are all susceptible to dampness or water. Of course, electricity and water don’t mix, that means power cords should be plugged into GFCI outlets.

This will prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any interruptions in electricity occur.

If you do not already have GFCI outlets installed in damp rooms around your home, it is time to install them or call an electrician in Arlington. Then, for further safety measures, heed the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that note that an appliance is not designed for outdoor use.

Electrical Wires, Outlets & Electronics Away From Water

Quite a few appliances are specially manufactured for outdoor use, such as charcoal and gas grills. If you make us of any electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers and freezers, power tools and others – ensure that all cords and outlets are 100% dry. Using weatherproof electronics can help with this, in addition to GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are Only a Momentary Option

An extension cord poses several potential risks, including:

The likelihood of a loose connection that could create sparks and start a fire.
The possibility of power fluctuations that could damage the appliance.
Increased vulnerability to water penetration that might lead to electrocution.
The potential for cords overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an insufficient extension cord is paired with a high-power appliance.

When choosing an extension cord for temporary use, ensure that it’s the correct gauge for the home appliance in question. The smaller the gauge, the larger the cord size. For instance, a household extension cord for a radio could 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 is, the more power is used up on the way, also known as voltage drop. Short extension cords are advised for electric tools and similar equipment.

Be Sure to Read the Operating Manual for Any Appliance You Purchase

It is simple to guess that you know how to use your new home appliance without consulting the operating manual, but reading the instructions is important for many reasons:

You should find out if your home’s electrical wiring is good enough to support the appliance. You may have to install a better circuit to prevent overloading your existing ones.

You learn about complicated features you wouldn’t have otherwise have known.
You learn whether the appliance is safe for outdoor areas or not.

You don’t have the extreme stress that can sometimes come from trying to run a new appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances When Not Being Used

You can stop unnecessary energy usage by unplugging appliances when you are not operating them. This is because small appliances include LED lights, timers and other features while in standby times.

Unplug televisions, computer monitors, routers, game consoles, phone chargers and more to cut back on wasteful energy usage. Just remember, it is OK to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to prevent missing out on their automatic background functions.

For extra tips on using appliances safely, or to schedule a professional appliance repair company, please contact Achieve Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can repair all major home appliances!

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