Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside your house often make your life much easier, but when you use appliances the wrong way, they could create noticeable health risks. You will want to care for your appliances and ensure that they do not become dangers by adhering to these helpful home appliance safety tips from Gibson Appliance Repair.

The professional tips below will help to prevent fires and injuries from broken appliances. That being said, hazards might still occur. If an appliance breaks or malfunctions and becomes a safety risk, call a professional appliance repair CITY.

GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations in Your Home

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

This type of electrical outlet prevents electrocution by tripping the circuit when any inconsistencies in electricity are detected.

If you don’t already have GFCI outlets installed in damp rooms inside of your home, it is time to install them or call an electrician in CITY. Then, for safety, heed the warnings of appliance manuals that indicate they are not for outdoor use.

Electrical Cords, Electronics & Outlets Far Away From Wet Areas

Quite a few appliances are built for outdoor areas, like barbecue grills. If you have electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers and freezers, electric tools and others – monitor that all of the outlets and plugs are not wet. Weatherproof electronics will help, along with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are Only a Momentary Solution

Extension cords pose several noticeable risks, including:

• The likelihood of a loose connection that sometimes can cause sparks and start a fire.
• The chance of power fluctuations that can break the appliance.
• Increased susceptibility to water penetration that could result in electrocution.
• The potential for wires overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an insufficient extension cord is combined with a high-power appliance.

When determining an extension cord for temporary use, be sure it is the correct gauge for the electrical tool in question. The smaller the gauge, the bigger the wire size. For example, a basic electrical extension cord for a radio might have a 16-gauge cord where a larger cord for a air conditioner requires a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also important. The longer the cord is, the more power is gone on the way, this is called voltage drop. Short cords are advised for power tools and equipment.

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 brand new dishwasher or washing machine without consulting the operating manual, but consulting the guidelines is necessary for several reasons:

You should find out if your home’s electrical wiring is good enough to power the appliance. You might need to install a better circuit to stop overloading your current ones.

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

You don’t have the frustration that can sometimes come from attempting to use a new home appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances When Not Being Used

You are able to stop unnecessary energy usage by unplugging appliances when you aren’t operating them. This is because small appliances often include LED lights, timers and other features standby times.

Unplug monitors, TVs, printers, modems, routers, game systems, smart phone chargers and more to limit wasteful energy consumption. But remember, it’s worthwhile to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to prevent missing out on their background functions.

For even more tips on ways to use home appliances safely, or to call a local appliance repair service, please contact Gibson Appliance Repair. We can fix all major household appliances!

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