Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside of your home can make life much easier, but if you operate them the wrong way, they might produce evident health risks. You will want to care for your appliances and ensure that they will not become hazards by adhering to these household appliance safety suggestions from Henry’s Appliance Repair.

The professional tips in this post can help to prevent fires and injuries due to broken appliances. However, hazards can still happen. In the event a home appliance breaks or malfunctions and becomes a danger, hire a professional appliance repair in The Villages.

Install GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations in Your Home

Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages are all susceptible to possible wetness or water. Of course, electricity and moisture don’t go together, that means electrical cords should be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

This special type of electrical outlet will prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any imbalances in electricity arise.

If you do not currently have GFCI outlets installed in wet areas around your house, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in The Villages. Then, for additional safety, follow the warnings of appliance manuals that note that a home appliance is not meant for outdoor areas.

Cords, Electronics & Outlets Away From Damp Areas

Many home appliances are specially manufactured for the outdoors, like barbecue grills, for example. If you have any electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers, power tools and more – ensure that all of the outlets and cords are not wet. Weatherproof electronics will help with this, in addition to GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are a Momentary Answer

An extension cord poses a lot of risks, including:

• The likelihood of loose connections that might result in sparks and cause a fire.
• The possibility of power fluctuations that can damage the appliance.
• Increased susceptibility to moisture penetration that may result in electrocution.
• The probability of 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 temporary use, be sure that it is the appropriate gauge for the electrical equipment in question. The lower the gauge, the larger the cord size. For instance, a basic electrical extension cord for a garden tool may have a 16-gauge cord whereas a longer cord for a AC unit needs a 12-gauge wire.

The length is also a factor. The longer the extension cord, the more power is used up on the way, this is referred to as voltage drop. Shorter cords are good for electric tools and similar equipment.

Always Read the Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Purchase

It’s easy to assume that you know how to use a brand new dishwasher or washing machine without consulting the manual, but consulting the instructions is important for several reasons:

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

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

You avoid the frustration that can come from trying to operate a appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home When Not Being Used

You can prevent unnecessary energy usage by unplugging appliances when not in use. This is because small appliances include LED signals, timers and other features during standby mode.

Unplug televisions, monitors, internet routers, video game systems, smart phone chargers and more to limit unnecessary energy use. But remember, it is worthwhile to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to not miss their background features.

For extra tips on using appliances safely, or to call a local appliance repair company, please contact Henry’s Appliance Repair. Our technicians can repair all popular home appliances!

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