Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside of your home can make your life much easier, but when you use them the wrong way, they could create evident risks. You should maintain your appliances and be sure they won’t turn into dangers by following these appliance safety tips from Witt Appliance Repair.

The tips below can help prevent fires and injuries from kitchen appliances. That being said, hazards might still happen. In the event a home appliance breaks or starts to malfunction and becomes a safety risk, hire a professional appliance repair CITY.

Install GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations

Kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, bathrooms, outdoor areas and garages can be susceptible to possible wetness or water. As you are well aware, electricity and water don’t mix, therefore power cords and wires should be plugged into GFCI outlets.

This type of outlet prevents electrocution by tripping the circuit if any interruptions in power occur.

If you do not have GFCI outlets in wet locations around your home, it is time to install them or call an electrician in CITY. Once that is done, for further safety, be sure to heed the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that note that an appliance is not meant for outdoor areas.

Wires, Outlets & Electronics Away From Water

Quite a few appliances are built for outdoor use, such as charcoal and gas grills, for example. If you have any electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers and freezers, power tools and others – be sure that all outlets and plugs are not wet. Using weatherproof electronics will help with this, as do GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are Only a Momentary Solution

Extension cords can pose a lot of risks, including:

The likelihood of a loose connection that can lead to sparks and a fire.
The chance of power fluctuations that could ruin the appliance.
Greater susceptibility to water penetration that may lead to electrocution.
The potential for wires overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an insufficient extension cord is combined with a high-power appliance.

When determining an extension cord for short-term use, be sure that it’s the right gauge for the electrical equipment in question. The lower the gauge, the bigger the size for the cord. For example, a simple electrical extension cord for a lamp will have a 16-gauge cord where a larger cord for a AC unit needs a 12-gauge wire.

The length of the cord is also important. The longer the extension cord is, the more power is gone on the way, a phenomenon known as voltage drop. Shorter cords are good for electric tools and similar equipment.

Read the Manual for Any Appliance You Buy

It’s obvious to guess that you know how to use your new washing machine or dishwasher without consulting the manual, but reading the instructions is necessary for several reasons:

You will want to find out if your house’s wiring is good enough to power the new appliance. You may have to install a better circuit to stop overloading any existing ones.

You learn about features you wouldn’t have otherwise have known.
You understand if the new appliance is intended for outdoor locations or not.

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

Unplug Small Appliances When Not Being Used

You can limit unnecessary energy use by unplugging small appliances when you are not using them. The reason is small appliances sometimes include LED lights, clocks and other energy-consuming features while in standby times.

Unplug monitors, televisions, modems, printers, internet routers, game consoles, phone chargers and more to limit wasteful energy consumption. But remember, it is alright to keep DVRs and similar electronics plugged in to not miss their automatic background functions.

For even more tips on ways to use appliances safely, or to call a professional appliance repair company, please contact Witt Appliance Repair. We can repair all major home appliances!

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