The appliances inside of your home can make your life much easier, but when you use household appliances incorrectly, they might produce significant health risks. You will want to protect your appliances and ensure that they will not turn into hazards by following these household appliance safety suggestions from Gold Appliance Repair.
The tips in this post can help to prevent fires and injuries from broken home appliances. However, hazards can still happen. If an appliance breaks or starts to malfunction and becomes a danger, hire a appliance repair Fishers.
GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations in Your Home
Laundry rooms, kitchens, entry ways, bathrooms, basements, mud rooms, garages and outdoor areas can be susceptible to wetness or dripping water. As you well know, electricity and water don’t go together, so power cords and wires should always be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).
This will prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any interruptions in electricity occur.
If you don’t have GFCI outlets in damp areas inside and around your house, it is time to install them or call an electrician in Fishers. Then, for even more safety measures, follow the warnings of certain appliance manuals that indicate an appliance is not meant for outdoor areas.
Cords, Electronics & Outlets Far Away From Water
Quite a few appliances are specifically built for outdoor areas, such as gas and charcoal grills. If you use any electrical appliances outdoors – including refrigerators, dishwashers, freezers and ice makers, power tools and others – be sure that all cords and outlets are 100% dry. Using weatherproof electronics can help with this, as do GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.
Extension Cords are a Momentary Solution
Extension cords can pose many potential risks, including:
The likelihood of a loose connection that could lead to sparks and a fire.
The likelihood of power inconsistencies that may ruin the appliance.
Increased vulnerability to moisture penetration that might result in electrocution.
The potential for cords overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an insufficient extension cord is combined with a high-power appliance.
When deciding on an extension cord for temporary use, make sure that it’s the correct gauge for the electrical tool in question. The lower the gauge, the greater the wire size. For example, a basic extension cord for a garden tool could have a 16-gauge cord while a heavy-duty cord for a window air conditioner needs a 12-gauge wire.
Length is also a factor. The longer the extension cord, the more electricity is used up enroute, something known as voltage drop. Short cords are recommended for electric tools and similar equipment.
Always Read the Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Buy
It’s obvious to guess that you know how to use a brand new dishwasher or washing machine without consulting the operating manual, but consulting the instructions is necessary for many reasons:
You will find out if your house’s wiring is sufficient to support the appliance. You might need to install a better circuit to stop overloading your existing ones.
You learn more about advanced features you wouldn’t have otherwise have known about.
You discover if the new appliance is safe for outdoor locations or not.
You do not have the extreme frustration that can come from trying to use a appliance without instructions!
Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home if You Aren’t Using Them
You can stop unnecessary energy use by unplugging them when not in use. The reason is small appliances sometimes include LED indicators, clocks and other features while in standby times.
Unplug TVs, monitors, routers, video game consoles, smart phone chargers and more to reduce unnecessary energy consumption. But remember, it is worthwhile to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to prevent missing out on their automatic background features.
For more tips on how to use appliances safely, or to call a local appliance repair company, please contact Gold Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can fix all major household appliances!
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