The appliances in your house often make your life much easier, but when you operate household appliances unsafely, they might pose evident health risks. It is best to protect your appliances and be sure they don’t turn into dangers by adhering to these helpful home appliance safety recommendations from All-Pro Appliance Repair.
The professional tips below help prevent fires and injuries related to broken kitchen appliances. Even still, hazards can still happen. If a home appliance has issues or starts to malfunction and becomes a danger, hire a local appliance repair Yonkers.
Install GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations in Your Home
Laundry rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages can be susceptible to possible wetness or water. As you well know, electricity and moisture do not mix, so power cords and wires should always be plugged into GFCI outlets.
This prevents electrocution by tripping the circuit when any imbalances in electricity arise.
If you do not have GFCI outlets installed in wet areas around your house, it is time to install them or call an electrician in Yonkers. After that, for even more safety measures, follow the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that note that a household appliance is not for outdoor use.
Electrical Cords, Electronics & Outlets Away From Wet Areas
Quite a few home appliances are specifically designed for outdoor use, such as gas and charcoal grills. If you have electrical appliances outdoors – including refrigerators, dishwashers, ice makers and freezers, electric tools and more – ensure that all outlets and cords are 100% dry. Weatherproof electronics help with this, as do GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.
Extension Cords are a Temporary Solution
An extension cord poses a lot of potential risks, including:
The likelihood of a loose connection that might cause sparks and a fire.
The likelihood of power interruptions that may break the appliance.
Greater susceptibility to moisture penetration that can lead to electrocution.
The potential for wires 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, ensure it is the correct gauge for the home appliance in question. The lower the gauge, the larger the wire size. For example, a simple household extension cord for a garden tool might have a 16-gauge cord while a big cord for a air conditioner requires a 12-gauge wire.
Length is also important. The longer the cord is, the more electricity is lost enroute, this is referred to as voltage drop. Short cords are advised for power tools and similar equipment.
Always Read the Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Buy
It’s simple to guess that you know how to operate your new dishwasher or washing machine without reading the operating manual, but reading the guidelines is necessary for several reasons:
You will want to find out if your home’s electrical wiring is sufficient to support the new appliance. You may have to install a circuit to prevent overloading your existing ones.
You learn more about features you would not have otherwise have known about.
You understand if the new appliance is OK for outdoor use or not.
You do not have the frustration that can sometimes come from attempting to use a appliance without instructions!
Unplug Small Appliances When Not in Use
You are able to limit unnecessary energy usage by unplugging them when not in use. The reason is small appliances often include LED lights, clocks and other energy-consuming features during standby times.
Unplug monitors, TVs, modems, printers, internet routers, game consoles, cellphone chargers and more to cut back on unnecessary energy usage. But remember, it’s alright to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to not miss their automatic background functions.
For even more tips on how to use appliances safely, or to schedule a local appliance repair service, please contact All-Pro Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can fix all common household appliances!
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