Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in your home make your life easier, but when you operate them the wrong way, they might produce noticeable risks. You should protect appliances and make sure they don’t turn into hazards by adhering to these home appliance safety tips from Marion Appliance Repair.

The tips in this article can help to prevent fires and injuries related to broken appliances. However, hazards might still happen. In the event an appliance breaks or begins to malfunction and becomes dangerous, hire a professional appliance repair.

GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations

Kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, bathrooms, outdoor areas and garages can be susceptible to moisture or water. Of course, electricity and water don’t mix, that means power cords should always be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

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

If you don’t have GFCI outlets installed in damp areas around your home, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in Louisiana. After that, for safety measures, follow the warnings of appliance manuals that note that they are not for outdoor use.

Electrical Cords, Electronics & Outlets Far Away From Damp Areas

Several appliances are specially manufactured for outdoor use, like barbecue grills. If you use electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers and freezers, power tools and more – monitor that all of the cords and outlets are 100% dry. Using weatherproof electronics help with this, combined with GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are a Temporary Option

Extension cords pose many risks, including:

• The likelihood of loose connections that might create sparks and cause a fire.
• The likelihood of power inconsistencies that may ruin the appliance.
• Increased susceptibility to moisture penetration that can lead to electrocution.
• The likelihood of cords overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.

When choosing an extension cord for limited-time use, be sure that it’s the appropriate gauge for the home appliance in question. The smaller the gauge, the greater the size for the wire. For example, a electrical extension cord for a lamp might have a 16-gauge cord where a larger cord for a window air conditioner requires a 12-gauge wire.

The length is also important. The longer the cord is, the more power is gone on the way, also known as voltage drop. Short cords are good for power tools and equipment.

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

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

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

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

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

Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home When Not Being Used

You are able to prevent unnecessary energy use by unplugging appliances when you aren’t operating them. The reason is small appliances sometimes include LED indicators, timers and other energy-draining features during standby times.

Unplug monitors, televisions, modems, printers, routers, video game systems, cellphone chargers and more to stop wasteful energy use. But remember, it’s alright to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to not miss their automatic background features.

For even more tips on ways to use appliances safely, or to hire a local appliance repair service, please contact Marion Appliance Repair. Our technicians can fix all major household appliances!

OTHER RESOURCES:

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