Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in a home make life less stressful, but when you use them unsafely, they might create evident health risks. You will want to care for your appliances and ensure that they do not turn into hazards by adhering to these helpful home appliance safety recommendations from Astra Appliance Repair.

The professional tips below will help prevent fires and injuries from appliances. Even still, hazards might still occur. If a home appliance has issues or starts to malfunction and becomes a safety risk, reach out to an appliance repair.

Install GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations

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

This special type of outlet can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit if any interruptions in electricity occur.

If you don’t already have GFCI outlets in damp locations around your home, it’s time to install them or call an electrician. Once that is done, for safety measures, you will want to heed the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that note that they are not for outdoor areas.

Electrical Cords, Outlets & Electronics Far Away From Water

A lot of home appliances are specially designed for the outdoors, like barbecue grills, for example. If you use electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers, electric tools and others – ensure that all plugs and outlets are not wet. Weatherproof electronics will help, as do GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are a Temporary Solution

Extension cords pose a lot of evident risks, this includes:

The potential for a loose connection that could cause sparks and start a fire.
The chance of power inconsistencies that would damage the appliance.
Increased vulnerability to moisture penetration that could cause electrocution.
The likelihood of wires overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is combined with a high-power appliance.

When choosing an extension cord for short-term use, ensure that it’s the correct gauge for the electrical equipment in question. The smaller the gauge, the larger the size for the cord. For instance, a simple extension cord for a lamp might have a 16-gauge cord whereas a longer cord for a air conditioner unit needs a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also important. The longer the extension cord, the more electricity is gone enroute, this is known as voltage drop. Shorter cords are advised for electric tools and similar outdoor equipment.

Read the Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Buy

It is obvious to guess that you know how to operate a brand new home appliance without reading the manual, but reading the manufacturer instructions is important for several reasons:

You will find out if your home’s wiring is good enough to power the new appliance. You may need to install a new circuit to stop overloading any existing ones.

You learn about advanced features you would not have otherwise known about.
You discover whether the new appliance is OK for outdoor locations or not.

You do not have the extreme stress that can come from trying to operate a new home appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home When Not Being Used

You are able to limit unnecessary energy usage by unplugging small appliances when not in use. This is because small appliances sometimes include LED lights, timers and other energy-draining features standby mode.

Unplug TVs, computer monitors, internet routers, video game consoles, phone chargers and more to reduce wasteful energy use. But remember, it is alright to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to prevent missing out on their automatic background functions.

For more tips on ways to use home appliances safely, or to hire a professional appliance repair service, please contact Astra Appliance Repair. Our technicians can fix all common household appliances!

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