Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in your home often make life much easier, but if you operate them the wrong way, they could produce noticeable health risks. It is best to maintain your appliances and ensure that they don’t turn into hazards by following these helpful appliance safety recommendations from Stanley Appliance Repair.

The professional tips below can help prevent fires and injuries due to home appliances. That being said, hazards might still happen. In the event an appliance has problems or begins to malfunction and becomes dangerous, call a professional appliance repair.

GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations in a Home

Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, garages and outdoor areas can be susceptible to wetness or water. As you are well aware, electricity and water don’t go together, so power cords and wires should be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

This type of outlet prevents electrocution by tripping the circuit when any interruptions in power occur.

If you don’t have GFCI outlets installed in wet rooms inside and around your house, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in CITY. After that, for additional safety, follow the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that indicate they are not designed for outdoor areas.

Wires, Electronics & Outlets Away From Water

Many appliances are specially built for outdoor use, such as gas and charcoal grills, for example. If you have any electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers, power tools and others – monitor that all outlets and cords are not wet. Weatherproof electronics can help with this, combined with GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are Only a Temporary Answer

Extension cords pose a lot of evident risks, this includes:

The potential for a loose connection that sometimes can result in sparks and a fire.
The possibility of power fluctuations that will damage the appliance.
Greater susceptibility to water penetration that can cause electrocution.
The potential for wires overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an low-quality extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.

When choosing an extension cord for temporary use, make sure that it’s the correct gauge for the electrical appliance in question. The smaller the gauge, the larger the cord size. For example, a basic household extension cord for a lamp will have a 16-gauge wire while a bigger cord for a air conditioner unit uses a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also crucial. The longer the extension cord is, the more electricity is used up on the way, also known as voltage drop. Short extension cords are recommended for electric tools and similar equipment.

Always Read the Operating Manual for Any Appliance You Purchase

It is simple to assume that you know how to operate a new dishwasher or washing machine without reading the operating manual, but reading the manufacturer instructions is necessary for a lot of reasons:

You should find out if your house’s wiring is sufficient to power the appliance. You might have to install a new circuit to stop overloading your current ones.

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

You do not have the extreme stress that can sometimes come from trying to operate a new appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances When Not in Use

You are able to reduce unnecessary energy use by unplugging appliances when not in use. The reason is small appliances often include LED signals, timers and other features while in standby mode.

Unplug televisions, monitors, internet routers, game systems, smart phone chargers and more to cut back on unnecessary energy consumption. Just remember, it’s worthwhile to keep DVRs and similar electronics plugged in to not miss their automatic background functions.

For even more tips on how to use home appliances safely, or to schedule a professional appliance repair service, please contact Stanley Appliance Repair. We can repair all name brand home appliances!

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