Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in a house can make life easier, but when you use them the wrong way, they could produce evident risks. You will want to maintain appliances and be sure they do not become dangers by following these helpful appliance safety recommendations from McBride Appliance Repair.

The professional tips below help to prevent fires and injuries due to broken home appliances. However, hazards could still happen. If an appliance has problems or malfunctions and becomes a safety issue, call a professional appliance repair CITY.

Install GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations

Laundry rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages are susceptible to moisture or water. Of course, electricity and moisture don’t go together, that means power cords and wires should always be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

This particular type of electrical outlet prevents electrocution by tripping the circuit if any interruptions in electricity arise.

If you don’t already have GFCI outlets installed in damp rooms inside and around your house, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in CITY. Once that is done, for even more safety measures, follow the warnings of certain appliance manuals that indicate an appliance is not designed for outdoor areas.

Electrical Cords, Electronics & Outlets Far Away From Wet Areas

Quite a few appliances are designed for the outdoors, such as barbecue grills. If you have electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers, electric tools and others – ensure that all outlets and plugs are not wet. Weatherproof electronics will help with this, as do GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are a Temporary Answer

An extension cord poses a lot of noticeable risks, including:

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

When choosing an extension cord for limited-time use, be sure that it is the correct gauge for the electrical tool in question. The smaller the gauge, the greater the cord size. For example, a simple household extension cord for a garden tool may have a 16-gauge cord where a longer cord for a AC unit needs a 12-gauge wire.

The length of the cord is also important. The longer the cord, the more power is lost enroute, this is referred to as voltage drop. Short extension cords are good for electric tools and similar outdoor equipment.

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

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

You will want to find out whether your home’s electrical wiring is sufficient to support the new appliance. You may have to install a better circuit to prevent overloading any current ones.

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

You don’t have the extreme stress that can sometimes come from attempting to use a home appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances if You Aren’t Using Them

You are able to reduce unnecessary energy use by unplugging small appliances when not in use. The reason is small appliances include LED lights, timers and other features while in standby mode.

Unplug televisions, computer monitors, routers, video game consoles, phone chargers and more to stop unnecessary energy consumption. Just remember, it’s a good idea to keep DVRs and similar electronics plugged in to not miss their automatic background features.

For even more tips on using home appliances safely, or to call a professional appliance repair company, please contact McBride Appliance Repair. Our technicians can fix all common household appliances!

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