Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside your home make life much easier, but when you operate them unsafely, they could create noticeable health risks. It is best to maintain your appliances and ensure that they will not become dangers by adhering to these helpful household appliance safety tips from P&G Union Appliance Repair.

The professional tips below can help to prevent fires and injuries due to broken home appliances. That being said, hazards could still occur. If a home appliance has problems or begins to malfunction and becomes dangerous, reach out to a local appliance repair Union.

Install GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations in a Home

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

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

If you do not already have GFCI outlets installed in damp locations inside of your house, it is time to install them or call an electrician in Union. Once that is done, for further safety, you will want to heed the warnings of appliance manuals that indicate they are not meant for outdoor areas.

Electrical Wires, Electronics & Outlets Away From Damp Areas

Quite a few home appliances are designed for the outdoors, such as charcoal and gas grills. If you use electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers, power tools and more – ensure that all outlets and cords 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 several risks, this includes:

The likelihood of loose connections that might cause sparks and cause a fire.
The chance of power fluctuations that could break the appliance.
Greater vulnerability to water penetration that could cause electrocution.
The potential for cords overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an insufficient extension cord is combined with a high-power appliance.

When determining an extension cord for limited-time use, be sure it is the right gauge for the appliance in question. The smaller the gauge, the greater the size for the wire. For example, a basic extension cord for a garden tool may have a 16-gauge cord whereas a larger cord for a air conditioner unit uses a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also a factor. The longer the extension cord, the more electricity is used up enroute, also known as voltage drop. Short cords are good for power tools and equipment.

Read the Operating Manual for Any Appliance You Purchase

It is easy to guess that you know how to operate a new dishwasher or washing machine without consulting the manual, but reading the manufacturer instructions is necessary for many reasons:

You should find out whether your house’s electrical wiring is sufficient to support the new appliance. You may have to install a new circuit to stop overloading your current ones.

You learn more about complicated features you might not otherwise have known.
You understand if the appliance is intended for outdoor use or not.

You don’t have the stress that can sometimes come from trying to run a home appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home When Not Being Used

You can stop unnecessary energy usage by unplugging small appliances when you aren’t using them. This is because small appliances include LED lights, clocks and other features while in standby mode.

Unplug monitors, TVs, printers, modems, routers, video game consoles, cellphone chargers and more to cut back on wasteful energy consumption. But remember, it is alright to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to not miss their automatic background functions.

For even more tips on ways to use appliances safely, or to schedule a local appliance repair company, please contact P&G Union Appliance Repair. Our technicians can fix all major household appliances!

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