Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in a house can make life easier, but when you use appliances the wrong way, they could produce noticeable health risks. You should maintain appliances and make sure they do not become hazards by adhering to these household appliance safety recommendations from New Rochelle Appliance Repair ASAP.

The professional tips below help to prevent fires and injuries due to broken kitchen appliances. Even still, hazards can still occur. If a home appliance breaks or malfunctions and becomes a danger, call a professional appliance repair New Rochelle.

Install GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations in Your Home

Kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, bathrooms, outdoor areas and garages can be susceptible to moisture or water. As you are well aware, electricity and moisture do not mix, that means electrical cords should always be plugged into GFCI outlets.

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

If you don’t currently have GFCI outlets in damp areas around your home, it is time to install them or call an electrician in New Rochelle. Then, for safety measures, follow the warnings of appliance manuals that note that an appliance is not meant for outdoor use.

Electrical Wires, Outlets & Electronics Far Away From Water

A lot of home appliances are designed for outdoor use, such as charcoal and gas grills. If you make us of any electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers, electric tools and others – ensure that all of the plugs and outlets are 100% dry. Using weatherproof electronics help, combined with GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are a Momentary Answer

An extension cord poses several risks, including:
The likelihood of loose connections that could create sparks and cause a fire.
The likelihood of power inconsistencies that may ruin the appliance.
Increased susceptibility to moisture penetration that could lead to electrocution.
The potential for wires overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an low-quality extension cord is combined with a high-power appliance.

When choosing an extension cord for limited-time use, ensure it’s the appropriate 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 might have a 16-gauge wire where a big cord for a window air conditioner uses a 12-gauge wire.

The length of the cord is also crucial. The longer the extension cord is, the more electricity is lost on the way, something called voltage drop. Shorter extension cords are advised for electric tools and outdoor equipment.

Read the Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Buy

It’s simple to assume that you know how to operate your new dishwasher or washing machine without consulting the manual, but reading the manufacturer instructions is necessary for a lot of reasons:

You will want to find out if your house’s wiring is sufficient to support the appliance. You may need to install a better circuit to stop overloading your existing ones.

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

You do not have the frustration that can come from attempting to use a appliance without instructions!

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

You can prevent unnecessary energy consumption by unplugging small appliances when you aren’t operating them. The reason is small appliances sometimes include LED signals, timers and other energy-draining features while in standby times.

Unplug televisions, computer monitors, internet routers, video game systems, smart phone chargers and more to cut back on unnecessary energy consumption. But remember, it is worthwhile to keep DVRs and similar electronics plugged in to not miss their automatic background functions.

For more tips on how to use home appliances safely, or to hire a local appliance repair company, please contact New Rochelle Appliance Repair ASAP. Our repairmen can fix all common household appliances!

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