Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in a home can make your life much easier, but if you operate them unsafely, they could create noticeable health risks. It is important to maintain your appliances and be sure they don’t become hazards by adhering to these household appliance safety tips from JR’s Appliance Repair.

The professional tips below can help to prevent fires and injuries related to home appliances. Even still, hazards can still occur. If an appliance breaks or malfunctions and becomes a danger, hire a local appliance repair Colchester.

Install GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations

Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, mudrooms, garages, and outdoor areas are all susceptible to moisture or dripping water. As you are well aware, electricity and water do not go together, therefore electrical cords and wires should always be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

This particular type of outlet can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit if any interruptions in power arise.

If you do not have GFCI outlets in wet locations inside of your house, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in Colchester. Once that is done, for additional safety, follow the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that note that they are not designed for outdoor use.

Electrical Cords, Electronics & Outlets Away From Water

Several home appliances are specially designed for the outdoors, like charcoal and gas grills, for example. If you make us of electrical appliances outdoors – including refrigerators, dishwashers, freezers and ice makers, electric tools and others – monitor that all of the outlets and cords are dry. Weatherproof electronics help with this, combined with GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are Only a Temporary Answer

Extension cords can pose many potential risks, including:

The likelihood of loose connections that might lead to sparks and start a fire.
The possibility of power interruptions that might ruin the appliance.
Increased vulnerability to water penetration that might cause 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 determining an extension cord for limited-time use, ensure that it is the appropriate gauge for the home appliance in question. The smaller the gauge, the bigger the size for the wire. For example, a extension cord for a garden tool may have a 16-gauge wire while a heavy-duty cord for a air conditioner uses a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also crucial. The longer the extension cord, the more power is gone enroute, something called voltage drop. Shorter cords are recommended for power tools and equipment.

Read the Operating Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Purchase

It’s obvious to assume that you know how to operate your brand new dishwasher or washing machine without reading the manual, but consulting the guidelines is necessary for a lot of reasons:

You should find out if your home’s electrical wiring is enough to power the appliance. You might need to install a better circuit to prevent overloading your existing ones.

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

You don’t have the extreme stress that can come from attempting to operate a appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances if You Are Not Using Them

You are able to stop unnecessary energy use by unplugging appliances when you are not operating them. This is because small appliances include LED lights, timers and other energy-consuming features standby times.

Unplug televisions, computer monitors, routers, video game consoles, phone chargers and more to stop wasteful energy use. Just remember, it’s a good idea to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to not miss their background functions.

For additional tips on how to use appliances safely, or to schedule a professional appliance repair company, please contact JR’s Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can fix all major household appliances!

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