Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside of your house make your life much easier, but if you operate appliances the wrong way, they could pose significant health risks. You should care for your appliances and be sure they don’t turn into hazards by following these helpful appliance safety tips from Rhodes Appliance Repair.

The tips below can help prevent fires and injuries due to kitchen appliances. However, hazards can still happen. If an appliance has problems or starts to malfunction and becomes a danger, hire a professional appliance repair CITY.

GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations

Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, mud rooms, garages and outdoor areas can be susceptible to dampness or dripping water. As you are well aware, electricity and water don’t mix, that means electrical cords and wires should always be plugged into GFCI outlets.

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

If you don’t have GFCI outlets installed in wet rooms around your house, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in CITY. After that, for further safety measures, heed the warnings of appliance manuals that indicate a household appliance is not designed for outdoor areas.

Electrical Wires, Electronics & Outlets Away From Wet Areas

A lot of appliances are built for outdoor use, like barbecue grills. If you have electrical appliances outdoors – including refrigerators, dishwashers, freezers and ice makers, electric tools and others – monitor that all outlets and cords are not wet. Using weatherproof electronics help, along with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are Only a Temporary Solution

Extension cords can pose many risks, including:

The potential for a loose connection that could result in sparks and cause a fire.
The likelihood of power fluctuations that can damage the appliance.
Increased susceptibility to water penetration that can result in electrocution.
The probability of cords overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.

When determining an extension cord for limited-time use, be sure it’s the right gauge for the appliance in question. The smaller the gauge, the bigger the size for the cord. For instance, a simple household extension cord for a lamp will have a 16-gauge wire whereas a big cord for a air conditioner uses a 12-gauge wire.

The length is also important. The longer the cord is, the more electricity is gone on the way, this is called voltage drop. Short cords are advised for electric tools and equipment.

Read the Operating Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Buy

It is obvious to assume that you know how to use a new appliance without consulting the operating manual, but reading the manufacturer guidelines is necessary for a lot of reasons:

You will find out if your home’s wiring is sufficient to support the new appliance. You may have to install a new circuit to stop overloading your existing ones.

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

You avoid the frustration that can come from attempting to run a new home appliance with no instructions!

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

You are able to reduce unnecessary energy usage by unplugging appliances when not in use. This is because small appliances often include LED signals, timers and other energy-draining features during standby times.

Unplug monitors, TVs, modems, printers, routers, video game systems, smart phone chargers and more to cut back on wasteful energy usage. But remember, it is alright to keep DVRs and similar electronics plugged in to prevent missing out on their background functions.

For more tips on how to use home appliances safely, or to hire a local appliance repair service, please contact Rhodes Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can repair all popular home appliances!

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