Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in your house make your life much easier, but if you use them unsafely, they could pose evident risks. It is best to care for your appliances and ensure that they don’t turn into hazards by adhering to these household appliance safety recommendations from Miller Appliance Repair.

The professional tips below can help prevent fires and injuries from household appliances. However, hazards might still happen. If a home appliance has problems or starts to malfunction and becomes a danger, reach out to a professional appliance repair.

Install GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations

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

This special type of outlet can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any imbalances in electricity are detected.

If you don’t currently have GFCI outlets installed in wet rooms around your house, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in CITY. After that, for further safety, follow the warnings of certain appliance manuals that note that a home appliance is not designed for outdoor areas.

Electrical Cords, Electronics & Outlets Far Away From Damp Areas

A lot of appliances are specially designed for the outdoors, such as barbecue grills. If you make us of any electrical appliances outside – including refrigerators, dishwashers, ice makers and freezers, electric tools and more – monitor that all of the plugs and outlets are not wet. Using weatherproof electronics can help, along with GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are Only a Temporary Option

Extension cords pose several noticeable risks, this includes:

The chance for loose connections that might create sparks and start a fire.
The likelihood of power fluctuations that would damage the appliance.
Increased vulnerability to moisture penetration that may cause electrocution.
The potential for wires overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is paired with a high-power appliance.

When choosing an extension cord for limited-time use, make sure it is the appropriate gauge for the electrical appliance in question. The lower the gauge, the greater the size for the cord. For example, a household extension cord for a lamp may have a 16-gauge cord whereas a heavy-duty cord for a window air conditioner needs a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also important. The longer the cord is, the more power is lost enroute, this is referred to as voltage drop. Short cords are good for electric tools and similar outdoor equipment.

Always Be Sure to Read the Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Purchase

It’s simple to assume that you know how to operate your new dishwasher or washing machine without reading the operating manual, but consulting the manufacturer instructions is necessary for a lot of reasons:

You will want to find out whether your house’s wiring is sufficient to power the new appliance. You may have to install a circuit to stop overloading any current ones.

You learn about advanced features you wouldn’t have otherwise known.
You learn if the new appliance is safe for outdoor use or not.

You don’t have the stress that can come from attempting to use a appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances When Not in Use

You are able to limit unnecessary energy consumption by unplugging small appliances when you aren’t using them. The reason is small appliances often include LED lights, timers and other energy-draining features during standby mode.

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

For additional tips on ways to use home appliances safely, or to hire a professional appliance repair company, please contact Miller Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can fix all common household appliances!

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