Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in your house make life easier, but if you operate them the wrong way, they might produce evident health risks. It is best to care for your appliances and be sure they won’t turn into hazards by following these helpful appliance safety recommendations from Wells Appliance Repair.

The professional tips below help prevent fires and injuries due to broken appliances. That being said, hazards might still occur. If an appliance breaks or starts to malfunction and becomes dangerous, hire a professional for appliance repair in Fremont California.

Install GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations in Your Home

Laundry rooms, kitchens, entry ways, bathrooms, basements, mud rooms, garages and outdoor areas are all susceptible to wetness or dripping water. Of course, electricity and water don’t go together, therefore electrical cords should be plugged into GFCI outlets.

This prevents electrocution by tripping the circuit if any interruptions in electricity arise.

If you do not have GFCI outlets in damp rooms inside of your house, it is time to install them or call an electrician in Fremont. Then, for further safety, heed the warnings of certain appliance manuals that indicate they are not for outdoor use.

Wires, Outlets & Electronics Far Away From Damp Areas

A lot of appliances are specifically designed for the outdoors, like charcoal and gas grills. If you use any electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers and freezers, power tools and others – monitor that all plugs and outlets are 100% dry. Using weatherproof electronics can help with this, in addition to GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are a Momentary Solution

An extension cord poses a lot of evident risks, including:

The potential for a loose connection that might lead to sparks and cause a fire.
The likelihood of power inconsistencies that may damage 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 combined with a high-power appliance.

When deciding on an extension cord for temporary use, make sure that it’s the correct gauge for the electrical tool in question. The smaller the gauge, the bigger the size for the wire. For instance, a simple household extension cord for a garden tool will have a 16-gauge cord where a longer cord for a air conditioner needs a 12-gauge wire.

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

Always Read the Operating Manual for Any Appliance You Buy

It’s simple to assume that you know how to use your new home appliance without reading the operating manual, but reading the manufacturer instructions is necessary for many reasons:

You will find out if your house’s wiring is good enough to support the new appliance. You may need to install a better circuit to prevent overloading your existing ones.

You learn more about complicated features you might not otherwise have known.
You discover if the new appliance is safe for outdoor areas or not.

You do not have the extreme stress that can come from attempting to operate a home appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home if You Are Not Using Them

You are able to stop unnecessary energy use by unplugging them when you aren’t operating them. The reason is small appliances include LED indicators, timers and other energy-consuming features while in standby times.

Unplug televisions, computer monitors, routers, video game consoles, smart phone chargers and more to stop wasteful energy usage. But remember, it is a good idea to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to prevent missing out on their automatic background functions.

For additional tips on how to use home appliances safely, or to schedule a local appliance repair company, please contact Wells Appliance Repair. Our technicians can fix all name brand household appliances!

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