The appliances inside of a house often make your life less stressful, but when you use them the wrong way, they could produce noticeable health risks. You should protect appliances and be sure they will not turn into hazards by following these home appliance safety suggestions from Hometown Appliance Repair.
The tips below will help prevent fires and injuries related to broken kitchen appliances. However, hazards could still occur. In the event a home appliance breaks or malfunctions and becomes a safety concern, hire a appliance repair Suffolk.
GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations
Kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, bathrooms, outdoor areas and garages can be susceptible to possible dampness or dripping water. Of course, electricity and moisture do not go together, so electrical cords and wires should be plugged into GFCI outlets.
This can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit if any inconsistencies in power arise.
If you don’t have GFCI outlets installed in damp areas inside and around your house, it is time to install them or call an electrician in Suffolk. Once that is done, for safety measures, you will want to heed the warnings of appliance manuals that indicate a home appliance is not designed for outdoor areas.
Electrical Cords, Outlets & Electronics Away From Wet Areas
A lot of appliances are specifically designed for the outdoors, such as barbecue grills. If you make us of electrical appliances outside – including refrigerators, dishwashers, freezers and ice makers, electric tools and more – monitor that all plugs and outlets are dry. Using weatherproof electronics help with this, combined with GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.
Extension Cords are a Temporary Solution
Extension cords pose many risks, this includes:
The likelihood of a loose connection that might create sparks and a fire.
The chance of power inconsistencies that might break the appliance.
Increased vulnerability to moisture penetration that could lead to electrocution.
The probability of cords overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an low-quality extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.
When deciding on an extension cord for short-term use, make sure it’s the correct gauge for the electrical equipment in question. The smaller the gauge, the bigger the size for the cord. For example, a basic household extension cord for a lamp will have a 16-gauge cord while a big cord for a window air conditioner uses a 12-gauge wire.
The length is also important. The longer the extension cord, the more power is lost enroute, a phenomenon known as voltage drop. Shorter extension cords are good for power tools and outdoor equipment.
Read the Operating Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Purchase
It is obvious to assume that you know how to use your brand new appliance without reading the manual, but reading the manufacturer instructions is necessary for a lot of reasons:
You will find out whether your house’s electrical wiring is sufficient to power the appliance. You may need to install a better circuit to prevent overloading any current ones.
You learn more about features you would not have otherwise have known about.
You learn whether the new appliance is OK for outdoor areas or not.
You do not have the extreme frustration that can come from trying to operate a new home appliance with no instructions!
Unplug Small Appliances When Not Being Used
You can prevent unnecessary energy usage by unplugging them when you are not using them. The reason is small appliances often include LED indicators, timers and other energy-draining features during standby mode.
Unplug televisions, monitors, routers, game consoles, phone chargers and more to cut back on wasteful energy consumption. But remember, it’s a good idea to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to not miss their automatic background features.
For additional tips on using home appliances safely, or to call a local appliance repair company, please contact Hometown Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can repair all common household appliances!
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