Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in your house often make life much easier, but when you use appliances unsafely, they could create evident health risks. It is best to care for your appliances and make sure they do not become dangers by following these helpful home appliance safety tips from Gold Appliance Repair.

The tips in this article will help prevent fires and injuries from broken home appliances. Even still, hazards could still happen. In the event a home appliance breaks or malfunctions and becomes dangerous, hire a professional appliance repair.

GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations

Laundry rooms, kitchens, entry ways, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages are susceptible to dampness or water. Of course, electricity and water don’t mix, that means electrical cords and wires should be plugged into GFCI outlets.

This can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any interruptions in electricity occur.

If you don’t have GFCI outlets installed in damp rooms inside of your home, it’s time to install them or call an electrician. Once that is done, for even more safety measures, be sure to heed the warnings of appliance manuals that note that a home appliance is not for outdoor areas.

Cords, Outlets & Electronics Far Away From Damp Areas

Many home appliances are designed for outdoor areas, like charcoal and gas grills, for example. If you use any electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers, electric tools and others – monitor that all of the plugs and outlets are dry. Weatherproof electronics will help with this, combined with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are Only a Temporary Option

An extension cord poses many risks, including:

The likelihood of loose connections that might create sparks and a fire.
The likelihood of power inconsistencies that would damage the appliance.
Greater vulnerability to moisture penetration that can cause electrocution.
The probability of wires overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is paired with a high-power appliance.

When deciding on an extension cord for limited-time use, make sure that it’s the right gauge for the electrical equipment in question. The lower the gauge, the greater the size for the cord. For example, a basic extension cord for a radio may have a 16-gauge cord while a big cord for a window air conditioner needs a 12-gauge wire.

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

Always Be Sure to Read the Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Buy

It is easy to assume that you know how to use a brand new appliance without consulting the operating manual, but reading the guidelines is important for several reasons:

You will find out whether your home’s wiring is sufficient to support the appliance. You may have to install a better circuit to prevent overloading your existing ones.

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

You avoid the frustration that can come from trying to run a home appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home When Not in Use

You can reduce unnecessary energy consumption by unplugging small appliances when you are not operating them. This is because small appliances sometimes include LED indicators, clocks and other energy-draining features while in standby mode.

Unplug monitors, TVs, printers, modems, internet routers, video game consoles, phone chargers and more to limit unnecessary energy use. Just remember, it’s a good idea to keep DVRs and similar electronics plugged in to not miss their background features.

For more tips on ways to use appliances safely, or to schedule a professional appliance repair company, please contact Gold Appliance Repair. We can repair all popular household appliances!

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