Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in your home make your life much easier, but if you operate appliances incorrectly, they might produce significant health risks. You should maintain your appliances and make sure they don’t turn into hazards by following these appliance safety recommendations from Bull City Appliance Repair.

The professional tips below can help to prevent fires and injuries related to home appliances. Even still, hazards could still occur. In the event an appliance has issues or starts to malfunction and becomes a safety risk, hire a professional appliance repair North Carolina.

Install GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations

Kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, bathrooms, outdoor areas and garages are susceptible to possible dampness or water. Of course, electricity and water don’t go together, that means power cords and wires should be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

This will prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any imbalances in power arise.

If you don’t have GFCI outlets in damp locations inside of your house, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in North Carolina. Then, for even more safety, follow the warnings of certain appliance manuals that indicate they are not designed for outdoor use.

Cords, Outlets & Electronics Away From Water

Some appliances are built for the outdoors, such as charcoal and gas grills, for example. If you have electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers and freezers, power tools and more – monitor that all of the outlets and plugs are not wet. Weatherproof electronics help with this, along with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are Only a Temporary Answer

An extension cord poses several risks, including:

• The likelihood of loose connections that could result in sparks and start a fire.
• The possibility of power inconsistencies that might break the appliance.
• Greater vulnerability to moisture penetration that could cause electrocution.
• The chance of cords overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.

When deciding on an extension cord for temporary use, be sure that it is the correct gauge for the electrical equipment in question. The lower the gauge, the larger the cord size. For instance, a basic household extension cord for a garden tool could have a 16-gauge wire while a heavy-duty cord for a window air conditioner uses a 12-gauge wire.

The length of the cord is also crucial. The longer the cord is, the more electricity is lost enroute, this is called voltage drop. Shorter cords are good for power tools and similar outdoor equipment.

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

It is simple to assume that you know how to operate a brand new appliance without reading the operating manual, but reading the instructions is necessary for several reasons:

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

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

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

Unplug Small Appliances When Not in Use

You are able to reduce unnecessary energy usage by unplugging small appliances when you aren’t using them. This is because small appliances often include LED indicators, timers and other energy-draining features while in standby times.

Unplug monitors, televisions, modems, printers, internet routers, video game systems, smart phone chargers and more to limit unnecessary energy usage. Just remember, it is alright to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to not miss their automatic background functions.

For even more tips on using appliances safely, or to schedule a local appliance repair service, please contact Bull City Appliance Repair. Our technicians can fix all common household appliances!

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