The appliances inside of a home make life less stressful, but when you operate appliances the wrong way, they could produce evident health risks. You will want to maintain your appliances and ensure that they will not turn into dangers by adhering to these helpful household appliance safety suggestions from Finest Appliance Repair.
The professional tips below help to prevent fires and injuries related to household appliances. Even still, hazards might still occur. If a home appliance has problems or begins to malfunction and becomes a danger, call a appliance repair Garland.
Install GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations in a Home
Kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, bathrooms, mud rooms, garages and outdoor areas can be susceptible to possible moisture or water. Of course, electricity and moisture do not go together, so power cords and wires should always be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).
This type of outlet can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any inconsistencies in power occur.
If you do not have GFCI outlets in wet rooms inside and around your house, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in appliance repair Garland. Once that is done, for further safety, heed the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that indicate a household appliance is not meant for outdoor areas.
Cords, Electronics & Outlets Far Away From Water
A lot of appliances are designed for outdoor use, such as charcoal and gas grills, for example. If you have any electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers, electric tools and others – ensure that all of the plugs and outlets are 100% dry. Weatherproof electronics will help with this, combined with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.
Extension Cords are a Temporary Answer
An extension cord poses many potential risks, this includes:
The chance for a loose connection that might cause sparks and cause a fire.
The possibility of power fluctuations that will damage the appliance.
Greater susceptibility to moisture penetration that can cause electrocution.
The potential for cords overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an insufficient extension cord is paired with a high-power appliance.
When determining an extension cord for temporary use, make sure it is the correct gauge for the home appliance in question. The smaller the gauge, the bigger the size for the wire. For instance, a extension cord for a garden tool might have a 16-gauge cord where a longer cord for a AC unit uses a 12-gauge wire.
Length is also important. The longer the cord, the more electricity is used up on the way, something called voltage drop. Short cords are advised for electric tools and equipment.
Always Be Sure to Read the Operating Manual for Any Appliance You Buy
It’s obvious to assume that you know how to operate your brand new home appliance without consulting the manual, but consulting the guidelines is important for a lot of reasons:
You will find out whether your house’s electrical wiring is sufficient to support the appliance. You may need to install a circuit to prevent overloading any existing ones.
You learn about features you would not have otherwise have known about.
You discover if the new appliance is OK for outdoor locations or not.
You do not have the frustration that can come from attempting to use a new home appliance with no instructions!
Unplug Small Appliances When Not Being Used
You are able to prevent unnecessary energy usage by unplugging them when not in use. This is because small appliances often include LED signals, clocks and other energy-consuming features during standby mode.
Unplug monitors, TVs, modems, printers, internet routers, game consoles, cellphone chargers and more to stop wasteful energy consumption. Just remember, it’s OK to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to not miss their automatic background functions.
For even more tips on using home appliances safely, or to hire a local appliance repair service, please contact Finest Appliance Repair. Our technicians can fix all popular household appliances!
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