The appliances inside your home make life much easier, but if you operate them incorrectly, they might produce evident risks. It is important to care for appliances and make sure they won’t turn into dangers by following these helpful household appliance safety tips from Elite Appliance Repair.
The professional tips in this post help prevent fires and injuries due to household appliances. However, hazards can still occur. If a home appliance has problems or begins to malfunction and becomes a danger, reach out to a local appliance repair East Orange.
GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations
Laundry rooms, kitchens, entry ways, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages can be susceptible to dampness or dripping water. As you are well aware, electricity and moisture don’t mix, that means power cords should be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).
This prevents electrocution by tripping the circuit when any imbalances in power arise.
If you do not currently have GFCI outlets in wet areas around your house, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in East Orange. After that, for additional safety, you will want to heed the warnings of appliance manuals that indicate an appliance is not for outdoor use.
Wires, Electronics & Outlets Far Away From Water
Several appliances are specially manufactured for the outdoors, like gas and charcoal grills. If you have electrical appliances outdoors – including refrigerators, dishwashers, ice makers and freezers, electric tools and others – be sure that all of the outlets and cords are not wet. Weatherproof electronics will help, along with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.
Extension Cords are a Momentary Solution
An extension cord poses many potential risks, including:
The potential for loose connections that could lead to sparks and cause a fire.
The chance of power fluctuations that may damage the appliance.
Greater susceptibility to moisture penetration that could lead to electrocution.
The odds of cords overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an insufficient extension cord is combined with a high-power appliance.
When deciding on an extension cord for short-term use, make sure that it is the right gauge for the electrical equipment in question. The smaller the gauge, the larger the size for the cord. For instance, a household extension cord for a radio might have a 16-gauge wire whereas a heavy-duty cord for a window air conditioner requires a 12-gauge wire.
The length is also important. The longer the extension cord, the more power is gone enroute, a phenomenon known as voltage drop. Short extension cords are advised for power tools and outdoor equipment.
Be Sure to Read the Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Purchase
It’s obvious to guess that you know how to use your brand new home appliance without reading the operating manual, but reading the manufacturer instructions is important for many reasons:
You should find out whether your home’s electrical wiring is enough to support the new appliance. You might need to install a circuit to prevent overloading your existing ones.
You learn about features you would not have otherwise known about.
You discover if the appliance is intended for outdoor areas or not.
You avoid the stress that can sometimes come from trying to use a new appliance with no instructions!
Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home When Not in Use
You can limit unnecessary energy consumption by unplugging small appliances when not in use. This is because small appliances sometimes include LED indicators, clocks and other energy-consuming features standby times.
Unplug televisions, monitors, internet routers, game consoles, cellphone chargers and more to cut back on unnecessary energy use. Just remember, it’s alright to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to prevent missing out on their background functions.
For additional tips on using appliances safely, or to call a professional appliance repair service, please contact Elite Appliance Repair. We can fix all common home appliances!
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