Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in your house often make your life less stressful, but when you use them incorrectly, they could create noticeable health risks. You should maintain appliances and make sure they don’t turn into hazards by adhering to these helpful home appliance safety recommendations from Donaldson Appliance Repair.

The professional tips below help to prevent fires and injuries related to household appliances. However, hazards can still occur. In the event an appliance has problems or malfunctions and becomes dangerous, call a professional appliance repair.

Install GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations in Your Home

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

This prevents electrocution by tripping the circuit if any inconsistencies in electricity are detected.

If you do not already have GFCI outlets installed in wet locations around your home, it is time to install them or call an electrician in CITY. Once that is done, for safety, follow the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that indicate they are not designed for outdoor areas.

Wires, Electronics & Outlets Far Away From Wet Areas

Many home appliances are specially designed for outdoor areas, such as barbecue grills, for example. If you have electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers and freezers, power tools and more – be sure that all of the cords and outlets are 100% dry. Weatherproof electronics help with this, combined with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are a Momentary Option

An extension cord poses many evident risks, including:

The chance for loose connections that sometimes can create sparks and start a fire.
The likelihood of power inconsistencies that may ruin the appliance.
Greater vulnerability to moisture penetration that could cause electrocution.
The potential for cords overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an low-quality extension cord is paired with a high-power appliance.

When deciding on an extension cord for short-term use, ensure that it’s the right gauge for the appliance in question. The lower the gauge, the bigger the cord size. For example, a simple extension cord for a radio might have a 16-gauge wire whereas a larger cord for a window air conditioner needs a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also important. The longer the extension cord is, the more power is used up on the way, this is referred to as voltage drop. Short extension cords are recommended for electric tools and similar outdoor equipment.

Read the Operating Manual for Any Appliance You Purchase

It is obvious to assume that you know how to operate your brand new dishwasher or washing machine without consulting the manual, but consulting the guidelines is important for a lot of reasons:

You should find out whether your house’s electrical wiring is good enough to power the new appliance. You might need to install a better circuit to stop overloading any current ones.

You learn about advanced features you might not otherwise have known.
You understand if the appliance is safe for outdoor areas or not.

You don’t have the stress that can sometimes come from trying to use a appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home When Not Being Used

You can prevent unnecessary energy use by unplugging small appliances when not in use. The reason is small appliances include LED lights, clocks and other energy-draining features while in standby mode.

Unplug televisions, monitors, internet routers, game systems, smart phone chargers and more to limit wasteful energy usage. Just remember, it’s alright to keep DVRs and similar electronics plugged in to prevent missing out on their automatic background features.

For more tips on using appliances safely, or to call a professional appliance repair service, please contact Donaldson Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can repair all name brand home appliances!

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