The appliances inside of your home make life easier, but when you operate them incorrectly, they could create evident health risks. You should protect your appliances and be sure they don’t turn into hazards by adhering to these helpful home appliance safety recommendations from Lynch Appliance Repair.
The professional tips below can help prevent fires and injuries from broken home appliances. However, hazards might still occur. In the event an appliance breaks or begins to malfunction and becomes dangerous, call a local appliance repair San Bernardino.
GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations
Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages are all susceptible to possible moisture or dripping water. As you well know, electricity and water don’t go together, so electrical cords and wires should be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).
This particular type of outlet prevents electrocution by tripping the circuit when any imbalances in power are detected.
If you don’t already have GFCI outlets in damp locations inside and around your home, it is time to install them or call an electrician in San Bernardino. After that, for safety measures, follow the warnings of certain appliance manuals that indicate they are not designed for outdoor areas.
Electrical Wires, Electronics & Outlets Away From Water
Several appliances are specifically built for outdoor areas, such as barbecue grills. If you use electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers, power tools and more – monitor that all of the cords and outlets are 100% dry. Using weatherproof electronics can help with this, as do GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.
Extension Cords are Only a Momentary Option
Extension cords pose several risks, this includes:
The potential for a loose connection that might create sparks and cause a fire.
The possibility of power interruptions that can break the appliance.
Increased vulnerability to moisture penetration that may lead to electrocution.
The chance of wires overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an insufficient extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.
When choosing an extension cord for short-term use, ensure it is the appropriate gauge for the appliance in question. The smaller the gauge, the larger the size for the cord. For instance, a basic household extension cord for a lamp might have a 16-gauge cord where a longer cord for a window air conditioner needs a 12-gauge wire.
Length is also important. The longer the extension cord, the more power is gone enroute, something called voltage drop. Shorter cords are advised for power tools and outdoor equipment.
Read the Manual for Any Appliance You Buy
It’s obvious to guess that you know how to operate a brand new dishwasher or washing machine without consulting the manual, but reading the manufacturer instructions is necessary for a lot of reasons:
You will want to find out whether your home’s wiring is enough to support the new appliance. You might need to install a new circuit to stop overloading your existing ones.
You learn about features you wouldn’t have otherwise have known.
You learn if the new appliance is intended for outdoor use or not.
You do not have the stress that can sometimes come from trying to start a new appliance without instructions!
Unplug Small Appliances When Not in Use
You are able to prevent unnecessary energy usage by unplugging small appliances when not in use. This is because small appliances often include LED lights, timers and other energy-draining features standby times.
Unplug TVs, monitors, routers, game systems, smart phone chargers and more to stop unnecessary energy usage. Just remember, it is alright to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to not miss their automatic background functions.
For more tips on ways to use appliances safely, or to call a local appliance repair company, please contact Lynch Appliance Repair. We can repair all popular home appliances!
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