Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside your home can make life easier, but when you use household appliances incorrectly, they might create noticeable risks. You will want to care for appliances and be sure they don’t turn into dangers by following these home appliance safety suggestions from Shaw Appliance Repair.

The professional tips in this post will help to prevent fires and injuries due to appliances. That being said, hazards might still occur. In the event an appliance breaks or malfunctions and becomes a danger, reach out to a professional appliance repair CITY.

GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations

Laundry rooms, kitchens, entry ways, basements, bathrooms, outdoor areas and garages can be susceptible to moisture or dripping water. Of course, electricity and water do not go together, therefore electrical cords and wires should be plugged into GFCI outlets.

This type of outlet can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any imbalances in power arise.

If you don’t have GFCI outlets in damp locations inside of your house, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in CITY. Once that is done, for additional safety measures, follow the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that indicate an appliance is not designed for outdoor use.

Wires, Outlets & Electronics Far Away From Water

Several home appliances are manufactured for outdoor use, such as charcoal and gas grills. If you make us of electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers, power tools and others – monitor that all outlets and cords are dry. Using weatherproof electronics can help with this, as do GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are a Temporary Option

Extension cords can pose several risks, including:

• The potential for loose connections that might result in sparks and a fire.
• The possibility of power inconsistencies that will break the appliance.
• Increased vulnerability to water penetration that could cause electrocution.
• The chance of cords overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is paired with a high-power appliance.

When choosing an extension cord for limited-time use, be sure it is the appropriate gauge for the electrical equipment in question. The lower the gauge, the larger the size for the cord. For example, a household extension cord for a lamp will have a 16-gauge cord while a heavy-duty cord for a window air conditioner requires a 12-gauge wire.

The length is also a factor. The longer the cord, the more electricity is used up enroute, this is called voltage drop. Short cords are good for electric tools and similar equipment.

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

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

You should find out whether your house’s electrical wiring is good enough to support the appliance. You might have to install a circuit to prevent overloading your current ones.

You learn about advanced features you might not otherwise known about.
You discover if the new appliance is intended for outdoor areas or not.

You do not have the stress that can sometimes come from attempting to start a new appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances When Not Being Used

You can reduce unnecessary energy use by unplugging small appliances when you aren’t operating them. This is because small appliances include LED signals, timers and other energy-consuming features standby times.

Unplug monitors, televisions, printers, modems, internet routers, game systems, cellphone chargers and more to limit wasteful energy consumption. Just remember, it’s a good idea to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to prevent missing out on their background functions.

For additional tips on using appliances safely, or to schedule a professional appliance repair service, please contact Shaw Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can repair all name brand household appliances!

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