Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside of a house can make your life much less stressful, but when you operate them the wrong way, they could pose significant health risks. It is best to care for your appliances and make sure they will not become hazards by following these household appliance safety recommendations from Gibbs Appliance Repair.

The professional tips in this article can help prevent fires and injuries due to home appliances. That being said, hazards might still occur. In the event a home appliance breaks or malfunctions and becomes a safety concern, reach out to a professional appliance repair CITY.

Install GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations in a Home

Kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, bathrooms, garages and outdoor areas can be susceptible to dampness or water. As you well know, electricity and water don’t go together, that means electrical cords and wires should always be plugged into GFCI outlets.

This can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit if any imbalances in electricity are detected.

If you don’t have GFCI outlets installed in wet rooms inside of your house, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in CITY. Then, for additional safety, heed the warnings of certain appliance manuals that indicate a household appliance is not designed for outdoor areas.

Electrical Cords, Electronics & Outlets Far Away From Water

A lot of appliances are manufactured for outdoor areas, like charcoal and gas grills, for example. If you make us of any electrical appliances outdoors – including refrigerators, dishwashers, freezers and ice makers, electric tools and others – ensure that all of the cords and outlets are not wet. Using weatherproof electronics will help with this, as do GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are a Momentary Option

Extension cords can pose a lot of risks, including:

• The potential for loose connections that sometimes can result in sparks and cause a fire.
• The possibility of power interruptions that can ruin the appliance.
• Increased susceptibility to moisture penetration that could result in electrocution.
• The probability 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 it is the right gauge for the electrical equipment in question. The smaller the gauge, the bigger the size for the wire. For example, a household extension cord for a radio may have a 16-gauge wire whereas a larger cord for a AC unit uses a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also important. The longer the cord, the more electricity is gone enroute, this is called voltage drop. Short extension cords are good for power tools and outdoor equipment.

Always Be Sure to Read the Operating Manual for Any Appliance You Purchase

It’s simple to guess that you know how to use your brand new washing machine or dishwasher without consulting the operating manual, but consulting the instructions is necessary for a lot of reasons:

You should find out whether your house’s wiring is sufficient to power the appliance. You might need to install a new circuit to prevent overloading any current ones.

You learn about advanced features you would not have otherwise known.
You learn whether the appliance is intended for outdoor use or not.

You avoid the extreme stress that can sometimes come from attempting to start a appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances if You Aren’t Using Them

You are able to prevent unnecessary energy use by unplugging them when you are not operating them. This is because small appliances sometimes include LED signals, clocks and other features while in standby times.

Unplug televisions, monitors, routers, game consoles, smart phone chargers and more to limit wasteful energy use. Just remember, it’s a good idea to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to not miss their automatic background features.

For more tips on how to use home appliances safely, or to hire a local appliance repair service, please contact Gibbs Appliance Repair. We can fix all major household appliances!

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