Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in your house can make your life much less stressful, but when you use them the wrong way, they might create evident health risks. It is important to maintain your appliances and make sure they don’t become hazards by adhering to these helpful appliance safety tips from Dixon Appliance Repair.

The tips in this article help prevent fires and injuries related to broken kitchen appliances. That being said, hazards could still occur. If an appliance breaks or malfunctions and becomes dangerous, hire a local appliance repair Flower Mound.

GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations in a Home

Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, mud rooms, garages and outdoor areas can be susceptible to possible moisture or dripping water. Of course, electricity and water don’t go together, therefore electrical cords and wires should be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

This can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any interruptions in power arise.

If you don’t currently have GFCI outlets installed in damp areas around your home, it is time to install them or call an electrician in Flower Mound. After that, for even more safety measures, follow the warnings of certain appliance manuals that note that a home appliance is not designed for outdoor use.

Electrical Cords, Electronics & Outlets Far Away From Damp Areas

Several home appliances are specially designed for the outdoors, such as gas and charcoal grills, for example. If you make us of any electrical appliances outdoors – including refrigerators, dishwashers, ice makers and freezers, electric tools and others – ensure that all of the outlets and plugs are not wet. Using weatherproof electronics will help, along with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are a Temporary Answer

Extension cords can pose many risks, this includes:

The potential for loose connections that sometimes can cause sparks and cause a fire.
The likelihood of power inconsistencies that might ruin the appliance.
Greater vulnerability to moisture penetration that could cause electrocution.
The probability of wires overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an insufficient extension cord is combined with a high-power appliance.

When deciding on an extension cord for limited-time use, make sure it’s the right gauge for the home appliance in question. The lower the gauge, the bigger the size for the wire. For instance, a electrical extension cord for a lamp will have a 16-gauge cord whereas a heavy-duty cord for a AC unit requires a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also a factor. The longer the cord, the more electricity is gone on the way, this is called voltage drop. Short extension cords are good for power tools and outdoor equipment.

Read the Operating Manual for Any Appliance You Buy

It’s easy to guess that you know how to use your new dishwasher or washing machine without consulting the operating manual, but reading the instructions is important for a lot of reasons:

You should find out whether your house’s wiring is enough to support the appliance. You might have to install a circuit to prevent overloading any existing ones.

You learn about complicated features you wouldn’t have otherwise known about.
You understand whether the new appliance is intended for outdoor locations or not.

You avoid the extreme stress that can sometimes come from trying to use a home appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home if You Are Not Using Them

You are able to reduce unnecessary energy use by unplugging small appliances when you are not using them. This is because small appliances sometimes include LED signals, timers and other energy-draining features during standby mode.

Unplug monitors, TVs, modems, printers, internet routers, video game systems, smart phone chargers and more to stop unnecessary energy use. Just remember, it’s worthwhile to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to not miss their automatic background features.

For additional tips on ways to use home appliances safely, or to schedule a local appliance repair company, please contact Dixon Appliance Repair. We can fix all common household appliances!

OTHER RESOURCES:

Appliance Repair Cost
DIY Appliance Repair Tips
Repair or Replace Appliances
Refrigerator Parts