Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in a home often make your life much easier, but if you use them incorrectly, they could create evident risks. It is important to care for your appliances and make sure they won’t turn into dangers by adhering to these helpful household appliance safety recommendations from Midwest Appliance Repair.

The tips below will help prevent fires and injuries from broken home appliances. That being said, hazards can still happen. In the event a home appliance has problems or malfunctions and becomes a danger, reach out to an appliance repair.

Install GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations in a Home

Laundry rooms, kitchens, entry ways, bathrooms, basements, garages and outdoor areas are all susceptible to dampness or water. Of course, electricity and water don’t go together, therefore electrical cords should be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

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

If you don’t already have GFCI outlets installed in damp areas inside of your house, now is the time to install them or call an electrician. Then, for safety, follow the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that note that an appliance is not for outdoor areas.

Electrical Wires, Outlets & Electronics Far Away From Water

Several appliances are manufactured for outdoor use, such as barbecue grills, for example. If you make us of any electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers and freezers, electric tools and more – monitor that all plugs and outlets are 100% dry. Using weatherproof electronics will help with this, as do GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are Only a Momentary Option

An extension cord poses several potential risks, including:

The potential for a loose connection that might cause sparks and a fire.
The likelihood of power interruptions that may ruin the appliance.
Greater susceptibility to moisture penetration that can result in electrocution.
The chance of wires overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an low-quality extension cord is combined with a high-power appliance.

When choosing an extension cord for temporary use, be sure that it is the correct gauge for the electrical tool in question. The smaller the gauge, the bigger the cord size. For instance, a simple household extension cord for a garden tool will have a 16-gauge cord while a longer cord for a window air conditioner uses a 12-gauge wire.

The length of the cord is also a factor. The longer the cord is, the more power is lost on the way, something called voltage drop. Shorter cords are good for power tools and similar outdoor equipment.

Always Read the Manual for Any Appliance You Buy

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

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

You learn about features you would not have otherwise have known.
You discover if the appliance is safe for outdoor use or not.

You avoid the stress that can sometimes come from trying to operate a appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home if You Aren’t Using Them

You are able to stop unnecessary energy use by unplugging them when not in use. The reason is small appliances sometimes include LED signals, clocks and other features while in standby mode.

Unplug monitors, TVs, printers, modems, internet routers, video game consoles, phone chargers and more to cut back on wasteful energy usage. Just remember, it’s a good idea to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to not miss their automatic background functions.

For more tips on ways to use home appliances safely, or to call a local appliance repair company, please contact Midwest Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can repair all popular home appliances!

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