Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside of a house make your life much less stressful, but when you use appliances the wrong way, they might pose noticeable health risks. You should care for your appliances and ensure that they will not turn into dangers by adhering to these appliance safety suggestions from Anytime Arlington Appliance Repair.

The professional tips below help to prevent fires and injuries related to broken home appliances. That being said, hazards can still happen. In the event an appliance breaks or malfunctions and becomes a danger, hire a professional appliance repair Arlington.

GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations in a Home

Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages are susceptible to dampness or dripping water. As you well know, electricity and moisture don’t go together, therefore power cords and wires should be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

This will prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any interruptions in electricity are detected.

If you don’t currently have GFCI outlets in wet areas inside and around your house, it is time to install them or call an electrician in Arlington. Then, for further safety, be sure to heed the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that indicate they are not for outdoor use.

Wires, Electronics & Outlets Away From Water

Many home appliances are specially built for the outdoors, such as barbecue grills. If you use electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers, power tools and others – ensure that all of the cords and outlets are not wet. Using weatherproof electronics will help, as do GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are a Momentary Solution

An extension cord poses many noticeable risks, this includes:

The likelihood of a loose connection that sometimes can result in sparks and cause a fire.
The possibility of power interruptions that could damage the appliance.
Increased vulnerability to water penetration that can lead to electrocution.
The probability of cords overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is paired with a high-power appliance.

When deciding on an extension cord for temporary use, be sure it is the correct gauge for the home appliance in question. The lower the gauge, the greater the size for the cord. For example, a simple extension cord for a lamp could have a 16-gauge wire while a big cord for a window air conditioner needs a 12-gauge wire.

The length is also a factor. The longer the cord, the more power is gone on the way, also known as voltage drop. Shorter cords are recommended for power tools and outdoor equipment.

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

It’s obvious to guess that you know how to operate your brand new appliance without consulting the manual, but consulting the guidelines is important for several reasons:

You should find out whether your house’s electrical wiring is enough to power the new appliance. You might have to install a better circuit to stop overloading any current ones.

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

You avoid the frustration that can come from attempting to run a appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances When Not Being Used

You can reduce unnecessary energy use by unplugging them when not in use. The reason is small appliances often include LED indicators, clocks and other energy-consuming features standby mode.

Unplug monitors, TVs, printers, modems, internet routers, video game consoles, cellphone chargers and more to cut back on wasteful energy use. Just remember, it’s worthwhile to keep DVRs and similar electronics plugged in to prevent missing out on their automatic background functions.

For even more tips on using appliances safely, or to schedule a professional appliance repair service, please contact Anytime Arlington Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can fix all common home appliances!

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