Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in your home often make your life much easier, but if you operate appliances the wrong way, they might pose evident health risks. You will want to protect appliances and make sure they do not turn into dangers by following these appliance safety suggestions from Fast Fall River Appliance Repair.

The tips below will help to prevent fires and injuries from broken household appliances. Even still, hazards might still happen. In the event a home appliance breaks or starts to malfunction and becomes dangerous, hire a local appliance repair Fall River.

GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations

Laundry rooms, kitchens, basements, bathrooms, outdoor areas and garages are susceptible to moisture or water. Of course, electricity and moisture don’t go together, that means power cords and wires should always be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

This prevents electrocution by tripping the circuit when any imbalances in electricity arise.

If you don’t already have GFCI outlets in wet areas inside of your house, it is time to install them or call an electrician in Fall River. Then, for safety, follow the warnings of certain appliance manuals that indicate they are not for outdoor use.

Electrical Cords, Outlets & Electronics Away From Damp Areas

Some home appliances are specially manufactured for outdoor use, like gas and charcoal grills. If you use electrical appliances outdoors – including refrigerators, dishwashers, ice makers, electric tools and others – monitor that all of the outlets and plugs are dry. Using weatherproof electronics help, along with GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are a Temporary Option

Extension cords can pose several evident risks, this includes:

The potential for loose connections that can result in sparks and cause a fire.
The likelihood of power interruptions that could damage the appliance.
Greater vulnerability to moisture penetration that might cause electrocution.
The likelihood of wires overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is paired with a high-power appliance.

When choosing an extension cord for limited-time use, make sure it’s the appropriate gauge for the appliance in question. The lower the gauge, the greater the cord size. For instance, a basic electrical extension cord for a lamp may have a 16-gauge cord while a heavy-duty cord for a AC unit uses a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also a factor. The longer the extension cord is, the more power is used up enroute, this is known as voltage drop. Short extension cords are good for power tools and similar outdoor equipment.

Read the Operating Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Purchase

It’s easy to assume that you know how to operate your new dishwasher or washing machine without consulting the manual, but consulting the manufacturer guidelines is necessary for many reasons:

You will want to find out if your house’s electrical wiring is enough to support the appliance. You may need to install a circuit to prevent overloading any existing ones.

You learn more about complicated features you wouldn’t have otherwise known about.
You learn whether the appliance is safe for outdoor areas or not.

You don’t have the extreme frustration that can come from attempting to run a new appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances When Not in Use

You are able to stop unnecessary energy use by unplugging small appliances when you are not operating them. This is because small appliances sometimes include LED indicators, timers and other energy-consuming features while in standby times.

Unplug monitors, TVs, modems, printers, internet routers, video game systems, smart phone chargers and more to limit unnecessary energy usage. Just remember, it is a good idea to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to not miss their automatic background features.

For extra tips on using home appliances safely, or to call a professional appliance repair company, please contact Fast Fall River Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can fix all common home appliances!

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