Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in your home often make your life much less stressful, but when you operate them the wrong way, they could produce noticeable risks. You will want to care for appliances and ensure that they don’t turn into dangers by following these home appliance safety tips from Gray Appliance Repair.

The professional tips in this post will help to prevent fires and injuries due to home appliances. That being said, hazards can still happen. If a home appliance has problems or begins to malfunction and becomes a safety concern, call a professional appliance repair.

Install GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations in a Home

Laundry rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, basements, garages and outdoor areas can besusceptible to moisture or dripping water. As you well know, electricity and water don’t mix, that means electrical cords and wires should always be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

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

If you do not already have GFCI outlets in damp areas around your home, it is time to install them or call an electrician in CITY. Then, for further safety, follow the warnings of appliance manuals that note that a home appliance is not meant for outdoor use.

Electrical Cords, Outlets & Electronics Far Away From Damp Areas

Several home appliances are specifically designed for the outdoors, such as barbecue grills. If you use electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers and freezers, power tools and others – ensure that all outlets and cords are dry. Weatherproof electronics will help with this, in addition to GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are Only a Temporary Option

Extension cords pose many noticeable risks, including:

The chance for loose connections that might lead to sparks and start a fire.
The chance of power interruptions that may damage the appliance.
Greater susceptibility to water penetration that can result in electrocution.
The likelihood of wires overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is combined with a high-power appliance.

When determining an extension cord for temporary use, be sure it is the right gauge for the home appliance in question. The lower the gauge, the greater the wire size. For example, a household extension cord for a lamp will have a 16-gauge cord where a bigger cord for a air conditioner unit requires a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also a factor. The longer the extension cord is, the more power is gone enroute, something known as voltage drop. Shorter cords are good for electric tools and similar equipment.

Read the Operating Manual for Any Appliance You Buy

It is obvious to guess that you know how to use your new washing machine or dishwasher without reading the manual, but reading the manufacturer instructions is important for many reasons:

You will want to find out whether your house’s wiring is good enough to support the appliance. You may have to install a new circuit to prevent overloading any existing ones.

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

You avoid the stress that can come from trying to run a new appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances if You Aren’t Using Them

You can stop unnecessary energy usage by unplugging appliances when you aren’t operating them. The reason is small appliances include LED lights, timers and other energy-draining features during standby mode.

Unplug televisions, computer monitors, internet routers, video game consoles, cellphone chargers and more to cut back on unnecessary energy usage. Just remember, it is OK to keep DVRs and similar electronics plugged in to prevent missing out on their background features.

For even more tips on how to use home appliances safely, or to hire a local appliance repair company, please contact Gray Appliance Repair. Our technicians can fix all common household appliances!

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