Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside your house often make your life much easier, but if you use appliances incorrectly, they might pose significant health risks. It is important to maintain your appliances and be sure they do not turn into hazards by adhering to these home appliance safety tips from P.D.Q. Cicero Appliance Repair.

The tips below can help prevent fires and injuries related to home appliances. Even still, hazards could still happen. If a home appliance breaks or malfunctions and becomes a safety issue, reach out to a professional appliance repair Cicero.

Install GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations

Laundry rooms, kitchens, entry ways, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages can be susceptible to wetness or dripping water. As you are well aware, electricity and water don’t mix, that means electrical cords should be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

This special type of electrical outlet prevents electrocution by tripping the circuit if any inconsistencies in electricity arise.

If you don’t have GFCI outlets installed in damp locations around your home, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in Cicero. Then, for safety measures, heed the warnings of certain appliance manuals that indicate an appliance is not meant for outdoor areas.

Electrical Cords, Electronics & Outlets Away From Damp Areas

Some home appliances are built for the outdoors, like barbecue grills. If you use electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers and freezers, electric tools and more – monitor that all outlets and plugs are not wet. Weatherproof electronics will help, combined with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are Only a Temporary Solution

Extension cords can pose several risks, this includes:

The potential for loose connections that might cause sparks and cause a fire.
The likelihood of power fluctuations that would break the appliance.
Increased susceptibility to moisture penetration that can cause electrocution.
The potential for cords overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is paired with a high-power appliance.

When deciding on an extension cord for short-term use, ensure that it’s the right gauge for the electrical equipment in question. The lower the gauge, the bigger the cord size. For instance, a basic electrical extension cord for a radio will have a 16-gauge wire where a bigger cord for a air conditioner uses a 12-gauge wire.

The length is also important. The longer the extension cord is, the more power is gone on the way, this is known as voltage drop. Short extension cords are good for power tools and equipment.

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

It’s simple to guess that you know how to use a brand new washing machine or dishwasher without consulting the operating manual, but consulting the guidelines is necessary for a lot of reasons:

You will want to find out if your home’s electrical wiring is sufficient to support the appliance. You may need to install a circuit to prevent overloading your current ones.

You learn about features you might not otherwise known about.
You discover if the new appliance is safe for outdoor use or not.

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

Unplug Small Appliances When Not Being Used

You can stop unnecessary energy consumption by unplugging them when not in use. The reason is small appliances sometimes include LED signals, clocks and other energy-consuming features standby mode.

Unplug monitors, TVs, modems, printers, internet routers, video game consoles, phone chargers and more to limit unnecessary energy use. Just remember, it is a good idea to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to prevent missing out on their background functions.

For more tips on using home appliances safely, or to hire a professional appliance repair company, please contact P.D.Q. Cicero Appliance Repair. Our technicians can repair all name brand household appliances!

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