Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in a home make life much easier, but when you operate appliances unsafely, they could create noticeable risks. It is best to maintain appliances and be sure they do not become dangers by adhering to these helpful household appliance safety suggestions from Cole Appliance Repair.

The tips in this post help prevent fires and injuries from home appliances. However, hazards can still occur. If a home appliance breaks or malfunctions and becomes a safety issue, reach out to a professional appliance repair CITY.

GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations in a Home

Kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, bathrooms, mud rooms, garages and outdoor areas are susceptible to possible wetness or dripping water. As you well know, electricity and moisture do not mix, that means power cords and wires should always be plugged into GFCI outlets.

This prevents electrocution by tripping the circuit when any imbalances in power occur.

If you do not already have GFCI outlets installed in damp rooms inside of your home, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in CITY. After that, for even more safety, follow the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that indicate an appliance is not for outdoor use.

Cords, Outlets & Electronics Far Away From Damp Areas

Quite a few appliances are specifically manufactured for outdoor use, like barbecue grills, for example. If you make us of any electrical appliances outside – including refrigerators, dishwashers, ice makers and freezers, electric tools and more – monitor that all of the plugs and outlets are 100% dry. Weatherproof electronics will help with this, in addition to GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are Only a Momentary Solution

Extension cords can pose many risks, including:

• The likelihood of loose connections that could lead to sparks and a fire.
• The chance of power fluctuations that could break the appliance.
• Greater susceptibility to water penetration that might result in electrocution.
• The potential for 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, ensure that it is the correct gauge for the appliance in question. The smaller the gauge, the bigger the cord size. For instance, a basic extension cord for a garden tool might have a 16-gauge wire where a heavy-duty cord for a window air conditioner requires a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also important. The longer the extension cord is, the more power is used up on the way, also called voltage drop. Short extension cords are recommended for electric tools and similar equipment.

Always Read the Operating Manual for Any Appliance You Purchase

It’s easy to guess that you know how to operate your brand new home appliance without reading the operating manual, but consulting the manufacturer instructions is important for a lot of reasons:

You will want to find out whether your home’s wiring is enough to power the new appliance. You might need to install a better circuit to stop overloading your current ones.

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

You don’t have the extreme stress that can come from trying to use a appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances if You Aren’t Using Them

You are able to prevent unnecessary energy use by unplugging appliances when not in use. This is because small appliances include LED indicators, timers and other energy-draining features standby times.

Unplug TVs, monitors, routers, game systems, phone chargers and more to cut back on wasteful energy use. Just remember, it is OK to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to not miss their automatic background functions.

For even more tips on ways to use home appliances safely, or to call a professional appliance repair service, please contact Cole Appliance Repair. Our technicians can repair all popular household appliances!

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