Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside of your home make your life much easier, but when you operate them unsafely, they might create noticeable health risks. You should maintain your appliances and ensure that they do not turn into dangers by adhering to these household appliance safety suggestions from World Class Appliance Repair.

The tips in this post help prevent fires and injuries from kitchen appliances. However, hazards might still happen. In the event a home appliance has issues or malfunctions and becomes dangerous, call a appliance repair Rancho Cucamonga.

Install GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations

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

This prevents electrocution by tripping the circuit when any interruptions in electricity arise.

If you don’t have GFCI outlets in damp locations inside of your home, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in Rancho Cucamonga. Once that is done, for even more safety, be sure to heed the warnings of certain appliance manuals that note that they are not for outdoor areas.

Electrical Wires, Electronics & Outlets Away From Water

Some appliances are specially built for the outdoors, like charcoal and gas grills. If you make us of any 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 gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are a Momentary Solution

Extension cords can pose a lot of evident risks, this includes:

The likelihood of a loose connection that could cause sparks and a fire.
The possibility of power inconsistencies that can break the appliance.
Increased susceptibility to moisture penetration that can result in electrocution.
The potential for cords overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is paired with a high-power appliance.

When deciding on an extension cord for limited-time use, make sure that it is the appropriate gauge for the electrical appliance in question. The lower the gauge, the greater the size for the wire. For instance, a basic extension cord for a lamp might have a 16-gauge cord while a bigger cord for a air conditioner unit needs a 12-gauge wire.

The length is also a factor. The longer the extension cord is, the more electricity is gone enroute, also known as voltage drop. Short cords are advised for electric tools and similar outdoor equipment.

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

It’s simple to guess that you know how to use your new washing machine or dishwasher without consulting the operating manual, but consulting the guidelines is important for a lot of reasons:

You will find out whether your house’s electrical wiring is good enough to support the new appliance. You may have to install a new circuit to prevent overloading your existing ones.

You learn more about features you wouldn’t have otherwise have known.
You discover whether the new appliance is safe for outdoor use or not.

You avoid the extreme stress that can come from attempting to operate a home appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances if You Are Not Using Them

You can reduce unnecessary energy usage by unplugging appliances when you aren’t operating them. This is because small appliances sometimes include LED indicators, clocks and other features standby times.

Unplug televisions, monitors, internet routers, video game consoles, cellphone chargers and more to limit wasteful energy use. Just remember, it is a good idea to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to not miss their automatic background functions.

For extra tips on ways to use home appliances safely, or to hire a professional appliance repair company, please contact World Class Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can fix all major home appliances!

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