The appliances inside of a home often make life much easier, but if you operate appliances unsafely, they might pose evident health risks. You should maintain your appliances and ensure that they will not become dangers by adhering to these home appliance safety tips from Ideal Appliance Repair.
The tips below can help to prevent fires and injuries due to home appliances. However, hazards can still happen. In the event a home appliance breaks or starts to malfunction and becomes a safety concern, call an appliance repair Boston.
Install GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations
Laundry rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages can be susceptible to moisture or water. Of course, electricity and water do not go together, that means electrical cords should always be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).
This can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any imbalances in electricity occur.
If you don’t currently have GFCI outlets installed in damp rooms around your house, it’s time to install them or call an electrician. Once that is done, for even more safety, you will want to heed the warnings of certain appliance manuals that indicate they are not designed for outdoor areas.
Electrical Cords, Electronics & Outlets Away From Wet Areas
Many appliances are specially built for outdoor areas, such as barbecue grills. If you have electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers, power tools and more – ensure that all of the outlets and cords are not wet. Weatherproof electronics help with this, as do GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.
Extension Cords are a Momentary Option
An extension cord poses many noticeable risks, including:
- The likelihood of loose connections that could create sparks and cause a fire.
- The likelihood of power fluctuations that can damage the appliance.
- Greater susceptibility to water penetration that might cause electrocution.
- The odds of wires overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an insufficient extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.
When deciding on an extension cord for temporary use, ensure it is the appropriate gauge for the electrical equipment in question. The lower the gauge, the bigger the wire size. For instance, a electrical extension cord for a lamp may have a 16-gauge wire whereas a larger cord for a air conditioner uses a 12-gauge wire.
The length is also important. The longer the extension cord is, the more electricity is gone on the way, also known as voltage drop. Shorter extension cords are recommended for electric tools and outdoor equipment.
Be Sure to Read the Operating Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Purchase
It is easy to assume that you know how to operate a brand new dishwasher or washing machine without consulting the operating manual, but consulting the manufacturer guidelines is important for many reasons:
You will want to find out whether your home’s electrical wiring is enough to support the appliance. You might need to install a new circuit to prevent overloading your existing ones.
You learn about complicated features you wouldn’t have otherwise have known.
You discover if the new appliance is intended for outdoor areas or not.
You avoid the frustration that can come from attempting to use a home appliance with no instructions!
Unplug Small Appliances When Not Being Used
You are able to stop unnecessary energy usage by unplugging them when you aren’t using them. The reason is small appliances sometimes include LED indicators, clocks and other energy-consuming features standby times.
Unplug televisions, monitors, internet routers, game consoles, cellphone chargers and more to stop wasteful energy consumption. But remember, it is OK to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to not miss their background functions.
For additional tips on using home appliances safely, or to hire a professional appliance repair service, please contact Ideal Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can fix all popular household appliances!
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