Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside of a house often make your life easier, but when you operate household appliances unsafely, they might produce evident risks. It is best to care for your appliances and make sure they do not become dangers by following these appliance safety tips from Accel Appliance Repair.

The professional tips in this article can help prevent fires and injuries due to appliances. That being said, hazards might still occur. In the event a home appliance has issues or malfunctions and becomes a danger, call a professional appliance repair Washington.

GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations in a Home

Laundry rooms, kitchens, entry ways, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages are all susceptible to wetness or water. Of course, electricity and water do not go together, so power cords should always be plugged into GFCI outlets.

This special type of outlet will prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any interruptions in electricity arise.

If you don’t currently have GFCI outlets in wet rooms inside of your house, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in Washington. Then, for additional safety, follow the warnings of certain appliance manuals that note that they are not for outdoor areas.

Electrical Cords, Outlets & Electronics Far Away From Water

Quite a few appliances are specially manufactured for outdoor use, such as charcoal and gas grills, for example. If you have electrical appliances outside – including refrigerators, dishwashers, freezers and ice makers, electric tools and more – ensure that all of the outlets and plugs are 100% dry. Weatherproof electronics can help, in addition to GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are Only a Momentary Solution

An extension cord poses a lot of potential risks, this includes:

• The likelihood of a loose connection that could result in sparks and a fire.
• The chance of power interruptions that will break the appliance.
• Increased susceptibility to moisture penetration that might cause electrocution.
• The odds of wires overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an insufficient extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.

When choosing an extension cord for limited-time use, be sure that it is the correct gauge for the electrical tool in question. The smaller the gauge, the greater the cord size. For instance, a simple electrical extension cord for a lamp could have a 16-gauge cord where a big cord for a window air conditioner requires a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also important. The longer the cord is, the more power is used up enroute, this is referred to as voltage drop. Short cords are good for power tools and equipment.

Be Sure to Read the Manual for Any Appliance You Purchase

It’s simple to assume that you know how to use a new home appliance 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 support the new appliance. You may have to install a better circuit to prevent overloading your current ones.

You learn more about advanced features you wouldn’t have otherwise known about.
You understand if the appliance is intended for outdoor use or not.

You do not have the stress that can sometimes come from attempting to start a new appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances When Not in Use

You can stop unnecessary energy usage by unplugging them when not in use. The reason is small appliances often include LED signals, clocks and other energy-consuming features during standby times.

Unplug televisions, monitors, routers, video game systems, phone chargers and more to limit wasteful energy use. Just remember, it is alright to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to not miss their background functions.

For additional tips on using appliances safely, or to call a local appliance repair service, please contact Accel Appliance Repair. We can fix all common household appliances!

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