Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside your house can make life less stressful, but if you operate appliances incorrectly, they might produce evident health risks. It is important to care for appliances and ensure that they won’t become dangers by following these helpful appliance safety recommendations from Sims Appliance Repair.

The professional tips below help prevent fires and injuries related to appliances. That being said, hazards can still occur. In the event a home appliance has problems or starts to malfunction and becomes a safety issue, reach out to a professional appliance repair CITY.

Install GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations

Kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, bathrooms, outdoor areas and garages are susceptible to possible wetness or dripping water. Of course, electricity and moisture don’t go together, so power cords should be plugged into GFCI outlets.

This prevents electrocution by tripping the circuit when any imbalances in power are detected.

If you don’t already have GFCI outlets in wet rooms around your home, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in CITY. Once that is done, for additional safety, heed the warnings of appliance manuals that indicate they are not meant for outdoor use.

Wires, Electronics & Outlets Away From Water

Several appliances are built for outdoor use, such as gas and charcoal grills. If you use electrical appliances outside – including refrigerators, dishwashers, freezers and ice makers, electric tools and more – ensure that all plugs and outlets are 100% dry. Weatherproof electronics can help with this, combined with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are a Momentary Answer

An extension cord poses several evident risks, including:

The potential for loose connections that might result in sparks and cause a fire.
The likelihood of power interruptions that can ruin the appliance.
Increased susceptibility to water penetration that may cause electrocution.
The potential for cords overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is paired with a high-power appliance.

When choosing an extension cord for temporary use, ensure it’s the right gauge for the electrical appliance in question. The lower the gauge, the larger the wire size. For example, a household extension cord for a radio will have a 16-gauge cord where a longer cord for a AC unit requires a 12-gauge wire.

The length of the cord is also crucial. The longer the extension cord, the more power is lost on the way, a phenomenon referred to as voltage drop. Shorter extension cords are recommended for electric tools and equipment.

Always Be Sure to Read the Manual for Any Appliance You Buy

It is easy to assume that you know how to use your brand new home appliance without consulting the manual, but reading the instructions is important for several reasons:

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

You learn about features you might not otherwise known.
You discover whether the new appliance is safe for outdoor use or not.

You don’t have the extreme frustration that can come from attempting to use a appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances if You Are Not Using Them

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

Unplug monitors, TVs, modems, printers, routers, video game consoles, smart phone chargers and more to reduce wasteful energy consumption. Just remember, it is OK to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to not miss their automatic background features.

For additional tips on using home appliances safely, or to hire a local appliance repair company, please contact Sims Appliance Repair. Our technicians can repair all popular household appliances!

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