Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside of a home often make your life much less stressful, but if you use household appliances incorrectly, they could produce evident health risks. It is best to protect appliances and make sure they do not become dangers by adhering to these helpful household appliance safety tips from Leading Yuma Appliance Repair.

The tips in this post will help prevent fires and injuries related to broken home appliances. That being said, hazards can still happen. In the event an appliance has problems or starts to malfunction and becomes dangerous, hire a professional appliance repair Yuma.

Install GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations in Your Home

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

This will prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any inconsistencies in power arise.

If you do not have GFCI outlets installed in damp locations around your home, it is time to install them or call an electrician in Yuma. After that, for additional safety, follow the warnings of certain appliance manuals that note that an appliance is not designed for outdoor areas.

Wires, Electronics & Outlets Far Away From Water

Some home appliances are specifically designed for the outdoors, like gas and charcoal grills, for example. If you have any electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers, power tools and more – monitor that all plugs and outlets are 100% dry. Using weatherproof electronics can help, combined with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are a Momentary Option

An extension cord poses several noticeable risks, this includes:

The potential for loose connections that could result in sparks and start a fire.
The likelihood of power interruptions that might damage the appliance.
Increased susceptibility to moisture penetration that may lead to electrocution.
The potential for 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 temporary use, make sure that it is the appropriate gauge for the electrical equipment in question. The lower the gauge, the greater the cord size. For example, a simple household extension cord for a radio might have a 16-gauge wire whereas a big cord for a window air conditioner requires a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also crucial. The longer the cord, the more power is gone on the way, a phenomenon known as voltage drop. Short extension cords are recommended for electric tools and similar outdoor equipment.

Be Sure to Read the Operating Manual for Any Appliance You Buy

It is obvious to guess that you know how to operate your brand new washing machine or dishwasher without reading the manual, but consulting the guidelines is important for several reasons:

You will find out whether your home’s electrical wiring is sufficient to power the new appliance. You might have to install a new circuit to stop overloading any current ones.

You learn more about features you might not otherwise known.
You learn if the new appliance is OK for outdoor areas or not.

You avoid the stress that can sometimes come from trying to start a home appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances if  You Are Not Using Them

You are able to limit unnecessary energy use by unplugging appliances when you are not using them. This is because small appliances include LED signals, timers and other energy-draining features while in standby mode.

Unplug monitors, televisions, printers, modems, routers, game systems, cellphone chargers and more to cut back on wasteful energy consumption. Just remember, it’s alright to keep DVRs and similar electronics plugged in to prevent missing out on their automatic background features.

For even more tips on ways to use appliances safely, or to schedule a local appliance repair service, please contact Leading Yuma Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can fix all common home appliances!

OTHER RESOURCES:

Appliance Repair Cost
DIY Appliance Repair Tips
Repair or Replace Appliances
Refrigerator Parts