Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside a house often make life easier, but if you operate household appliances incorrectly, they might create evident health risks. You will want to maintain your appliances and make sure they will not turn into hazards by following these helpful household appliance safety recommendations from Lawson’s Appliance Repair.

The tips below help to prevent fires and injuries due to broken appliances. However, hazards can still occur. In the event an appliance breaks or malfunctions and becomes a safety risk, reach out to a professional appliance repair CITY.

GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations

Kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, bathrooms, outdoor areas and garages are susceptible to possible wetness or dripping water. Of course, electricity and moisture do not go together, therefore power cords and wires should be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

This type of outlet will prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any imbalances in power arise.

If you don’t already have GFCI outlets installed in wet areas around your house, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in CITY. After that, for safety measures, you will want to heed the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that indicate they are not for outdoor areas.

Electrical Cords, Electronics & Outlets Far Away From Wet Areas

A lot of home appliances are specifically designed for the outdoors, such as charcoal and gas grills, for example. If you have any electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers, electric tools and others – ensure that all plugs and outlets are not wet. Weatherproof electronics help, combined with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are a Momentary Option

Extension cords can pose many potential risks, including:

• The chance for a loose connection that might result in sparks and cause a fire.
• The chance of power interruptions that might break the appliance.
• Increased susceptibility to water penetration that can lead to electrocution.
• The probability of wires overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an low-quality extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.

When determining an extension cord for limited-time use, ensure it’s the correct gauge for the electrical tool in question. The smaller the gauge, the greater the cord size. For example, a extension cord for a lamp could have a 16-gauge wire where a longer cord for a window air conditioner needs a 12-gauge wire.

The length of the cord is also crucial. The longer the cord is, the more electricity is lost on the way, a phenomenon referred to as voltage drop. Short cords are advised for power tools and outdoor equipment.

Always Read the Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Buy

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

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

You learn about complicated features you might not otherwise known about.
You discover if the appliance is OK for outdoor locations or not.

You avoid the frustration that can sometimes come from attempting to start a new home appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances When Not in Use

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

Unplug monitors, televisions, printers, modems, routers, game consoles, phone chargers and more to reduce unnecessary energy consumption. But remember, it’s worthwhile to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to not miss their background features.

For even more tips on using appliances safely, or to call a local appliance repair service, please contact Lawson’s Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can repair all name brand household appliances!

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