The appliances inside a home often make your life much less stressful, but if you operate appliances the wrong way, they might create significant health risks. It is important to protect your appliances and make sure they won’t become hazards by adhering to these appliance safety tips from One Call Appliance Repair.
The tips in this post will help prevent fires and injuries due to broken household appliances. That being said, hazards might still occur. In the event a home appliance has issues or starts to malfunction and becomes a safety risk, reach out to a professional appliance repair North Carolina.
GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations
Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages are all susceptible to possible wetness or water. As you well know, electricity and water do not mix, that means electrical cords should always be plugged into GFCI outlets.
This will prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit if any imbalances in electricity are detected.
If you do not already have GFCI outlets installed in wet rooms inside of your house, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in North Carolina. Then, for even more safety, follow the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that indicate a household appliance is not meant for outdoor use.
Wires, Electronics & Outlets Away From Water
Quite a few home appliances are built for outdoor areas, such as barbecue grills, for example. If you make us of electrical appliances outside – including refrigerators, dishwashers, ice makers and freezers, power tools and more – be sure that all of the outlets and plugs are not wet. Weatherproof electronics will help with this, in addition to GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.
Extension Cords are Only a Temporary Solution
Extension cords can pose many evident risks, including:
The likelihood of loose connections that could result in sparks and start a fire.
The likelihood of power interruptions that will damage the appliance.
Increased susceptibility to moisture penetration that can result in electrocution.
The potential for cords overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an low-quality extension cord is combined with a high-power appliance.
When deciding on an extension cord for short-term use, make sure that it is the right gauge for the appliance in question. The smaller the gauge, the greater the cord size. For instance, a extension cord for a radio might have a 16-gauge wire whereas a heavy-duty cord for a air conditioner unit requires a 12-gauge wire.
The length is also important. The longer the cord, the more electricity is gone enroute, something known as voltage drop. Shorter cords are advised for electric tools and similar equipment.
Be Sure to Read the Operating Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Buy
It’s easy to guess that you know how to use your brand new washing machine or dishwasher without consulting the manual, but reading the manufacturer guidelines is necessary for a lot of reasons:
You should find out if your house’s wiring is good enough to support the appliance. You may have to install a better circuit to stop overloading any existing ones.
You learn about advanced features you would not have otherwise known about.
You learn if the appliance is intended for outdoor locations or not.
You do not have the frustration that can sometimes come from attempting to run a new appliance without instructions!
Unplug Small Appliances if You Are Not Using Them
You can limit unnecessary energy use by unplugging them when not in use. The reason is small appliances include LED signals, clocks and other features standby mode.
Unplug TVs, computer monitors, routers, game systems, cellphone chargers and more to limit unnecessary energy usage. But remember, it’s a good idea to keep DVRs and similar devices 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 service, please contact One Call Appliance Repair. We can fix all common household appliances!
OTHER RESOURCES:
Appliance Repair Cost
DIY Appliance Repair Tips
Repair or Replace Appliances
Refrigerator Parts
Copyright ©2024 One-Call Cary Appliance Repair