Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside of a house often make your life easier, but if you operate them unsafely, they could pose noticeable risks. You should protect appliances and make sure they do not become hazards by following these helpful appliance safety tips from Jacobs Appliance Repair.

The tips in this post help prevent fires and injuries from kitchen appliances. That being said, hazards could still occur. If an appliance has issues or malfunctions and becomes a safety concern, reach out to a professional appliance repair CITY.

GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations in a Home

Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, mud rooms, garages and outdoor areas can be susceptible to possible wetness or water. As you are well aware, electricity and water do not go together, that means power cords and wires should always be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

This can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit if any imbalances in electricity are detected.

If you do not already have GFCI outlets installed in wet areas inside and around your house, it is time to install them or call an electrician in CITY. Then, for further safety, you will want to heed the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that indicate an appliance is not meant for outdoor use.

Wires, Outlets & Electronics Away From Water

Quite a few home appliances are specifically built for outdoor areas, like charcoal and gas grills, for example. If you have any electrical appliances outdoors – including refrigerators, dishwashers, freezers and ice makers, electric tools and others – ensure that all of the outlets and cords are dry. Weatherproof electronics help with this, along with GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are Only a Momentary Option

An extension cord poses several noticeable risks, this includes:

The potential for loose connections that might cause sparks and start a fire.
The likelihood of power fluctuations that might damage the appliance.
Greater vulnerability to moisture penetration that can lead to electrocution.
The odds of cords overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is paired with a high-power appliance.

When deciding on an extension cord for limited-time use, be sure that it’s the correct gauge for the electrical equipment in question. The smaller the gauge, the larger the wire size. For example, a basic extension cord for a radio could have a 16-gauge cord while a bigger cord for a window air conditioner needs a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also a factor. The longer the extension cord is, the more electricity is used up enroute, this is called voltage drop. Short cords are recommended for electric tools and similar outdoor equipment.

Always Read the Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Buy

It is simple to assume that you know how to operate a brand new dishwasher or washing machine without reading the manual, but reading the manufacturer instructions is necessary for several reasons:

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

You learn about features you might not otherwise have known about.
You understand whether the appliance is OK for outdoor locations or not.

You don’t have the frustration that can sometimes come from trying to run a new home appliance without instructions!

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

You can prevent unnecessary energy use by unplugging appliances when you are not using them. The reason is small appliances include LED indicators, clocks and other energy-draining features during standby times.

Unplug TVs, computer monitors, internet routers, game consoles, phone chargers and more to reduce wasteful energy use. Just remember, it is OK to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to prevent missing out on their background features.

For extra tips on using home appliances safely, or to call a local appliance repair company, please contact Jacobs Appliance Repair. We can fix all name brand household appliances!

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