Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in a house make your life much less stressful, but when you operate appliances the wrong way, they could produce evident health risks. It is best to maintain appliances and make sure they don’t turn into dangers by adhering to these helpful home appliance safety recommendations from Tuscaloosa Appliance Repair.

The professional tips below help prevent fires and injuries related to home appliances. Even still, hazards might still happen. If a home appliance has issues or starts to malfunction and becomes a safety risk, reach out to a professional appliance repair Tuscaloosa.

Install GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations

Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, mud rooms, garages and outdoor areas are all susceptible to possible moisture or dripping water. Of course, electricity and water do not mix, therefore electrical cords and wires should always be plugged into GFCI outlets.

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

If you don’t already have GFCI outlets installed in damp areas around your home, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in Tuscaloosa. After that, for even more safety, follow the warnings of certain appliance manuals that note that they are not for outdoor areas.

Wires, Electronics & Outlets Far Away From Water

Some home appliances are specifically manufactured for the outdoors, like charcoal and gas grills. If you use any electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers and freezers, power tools and others – ensure that all of the cords and outlets are not wet. Weatherproof electronics help, along with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are a Momentary Answer

Extension cords pose a lot of potential risks, this includes:

The likelihood of loose connections that might create sparks and start a fire.
The possibility of power fluctuations that will ruin the appliance.
Greater vulnerability to water penetration that can result in electrocution.
The potential for wires overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an low-quality extension cord is paired with a high-power appliance.

When choosing an extension cord for limited-time use, ensure that it is the appropriate gauge for the electrical equipment in question. The smaller the gauge, the greater the size for the wire. For example, a basic extension cord for a lamp may have a 16-gauge wire while a big cord for a window air conditioner needs a 12-gauge wire.

The length of the cord is also a factor. The longer the cord is, the more power is gone on the way, this is referred to as voltage drop. Shorter extension cords are advised for electric tools and outdoor equipment.

Read the Operating Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Buy

It is obvious to guess that you know how to operate a new appliance without consulting the operating manual, but reading the manufacturer instructions is necessary for many reasons:

You should find out if your house’s wiring is sufficient to power the new appliance. You might have to install a new circuit to prevent overloading your current ones.

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

You do not have the stress that can come from trying to run a new appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home if You Aren’t Using Them

You can reduce unnecessary energy usage by unplugging appliances when not in use. The reason is small appliances include LED lights, clocks and other energy-draining features while in standby mode.

Unplug TVs, monitors, internet routers, game consoles, phone chargers and more to cut back on wasteful energy usage. But remember, it is worthwhile to keep DVRs and similar electronics plugged in to prevent missing out on their background functions.

For more tips on how to use appliances safely, or to call a professional appliance repair company, please contact Tuscaloosa Appliance Repair. Our technicians can repair all name brand household appliances!

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