The appliances inside your home can make your life easier, but if you use household appliances incorrectly, they could create noticeable risks. It is best to protect appliances and make sure they won’t turn into hazards by adhering to these appliance safety tips from Martin Appliance Repair.
The professional tips below can help prevent fires and injuries due to broken household appliances. That being said, hazards might still occur. In the event a home appliance has problems or malfunctions and becomes dangerous, reach out to a professional appliance repair Spokane.
Install GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations
Laundry rooms, kitchens, entry ways, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages are all susceptible to dampness or dripping water. As you are well aware, electricity and moisture don’t mix, that means power cords and wires should be plugged into GFCI outlets.
This particular type of outlet can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any inconsistencies in electricity occur.
If you don’t already have GFCI outlets in wet areas inside and around your house, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in Spokane. Once that is done, for even more safety, follow the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that note that they are not meant for outdoor areas.
Cords, Outlets & Electronics Far Away From Damp Areas
Quite a few home appliances are specifically built for the outdoors, such as charcoal and gas grills, for example. If you make us of electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers and freezers, electric tools and others – ensure that all of the outlets and cords are not wet. Weatherproof electronics can help with this, as do GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.
Extension Cords are a Momentary Option
An extension cord poses many noticeable risks, this includes:
When determining an extension cord for limited-time use, make sure that it’s the right gauge for the electrical equipment in question. The smaller the gauge, the bigger the wire size. For example, a simple extension cord for a garden tool might have a 16-gauge wire while a bigger cord for a AC unit requires a 12-gauge wire.
Length is also a factor. The longer the extension cord, the more power is lost on the way, a phenomenon known as voltage drop. Shorter cords are recommended for electric tools and similar equipment.
Always Be Sure to Read the Operating Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Purchase
It’s easy to guess that you know how to use your brand new home appliance without reading the operating manual, but reading the guidelines is important for a lot of reasons:
You should find out whether your house’s electrical wiring is enough to support the appliance. You may need to install a better circuit to prevent overloading any existing ones.
You learn more about advanced features you might not otherwise have known about.
You understand if the new appliance is intended for outdoor areas or not.
You avoid the frustration that can come from attempting to operate a appliance with no instructions!
Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home When Not in Use
You are able to reduce unnecessary energy use by unplugging them when you are not using them. This is because small appliances sometimes include LED lights, clocks and other energy-consuming features during standby times.
Unplug monitors, televisions, printers, modems, routers, video game consoles, phone chargers and more to limit wasteful energy consumption. Just remember, it’s alright to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to prevent missing out on their background functions.
For more tips on ways to use home appliances safely, or to hire a professional appliance repair company, please contact Martin Appliance Repair. Our technicians can repair all name brand household appliances!
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