Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in your home often make life easier, but when you use household appliances unsafely, they could pose evident risks. You will want to protect appliances and be sure they will not turn into hazards by following these appliance safety suggestions from A&L Corona Appliance Repair.

The professional tips below help to prevent fires and injuries due to kitchen appliances. However, hazards can still happen. In the event a home appliance breaks or starts to malfunction and becomes a safety issue, call a professional appliance repair Corona.

Install GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations

Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, garages and outdoor areas can be susceptible to moisture or water. As you are well aware, electricity and water do not go together, therefore power cords and wires should always be plugged into GFCI outlets.

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

If you don’t have GFCI outlets in wet areas inside and around your home, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in Corona. Then, for safety, follow the warnings of certain appliance manuals that note that a household appliance is not for outdoor areas.

Electrical Cords, Electronics & Outlets Away From Water

A lot of appliances are manufactured for outdoor areas, like barbecue grills, for example. If you have any electrical appliances outside – including refrigerators, dishwashers, ice makers, electric tools and others – be sure that all of the outlets and plugs are 100% dry. Weatherproof electronics will help, combined with GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are a Temporary Option

Extension cords can pose many evident risks, this includes:

The likelihood of loose connections that might create sparks and cause a fire.
The possibility of power inconsistencies that could damage the appliance.
Increased vulnerability to water penetration that may cause electrocution.
The chance of cords overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is combined with a high-power appliance.

When determining an extension cord for limited-time use, ensure it is the right gauge for the electrical tool in question. The lower the gauge, the bigger the size for the wire. For example, a basic household extension cord for a garden tool will have a 16-gauge cord whereas a bigger cord for a AC unit requires a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also important. The longer the cord is, the more electricity is gone on the way, this is known as voltage drop. Shorter extension cords are recommended for power tools and similar equipment.

Always Read the Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Buy

It is simple to assume that you know how to operate your new home appliance without consulting the manual, but reading the instructions is necessary for a lot of reasons:

You will want to find out whether your house’s electrical wiring is sufficient to support the new appliance. You might have to install a new circuit to prevent overloading your existing ones.

You learn about features you wouldn’t have otherwise have known.
You understand whether the new appliance is intended for outdoor use or not.

You do not have the extreme frustration that can come from attempting to use a new appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances When Not in Use

You are able to prevent unnecessary energy consumption by unplugging them when you are not operating them. This is because small appliances often include LED lights, timers and other energy-draining features while in standby mode.

Unplug televisions, monitors, routers, video game systems, smart phone chargers and more to reduce wasteful energy use. But remember, it is worthwhile to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to prevent missing out on their background features.

For additional tips on how to use appliances safely, or to hire a professional appliance repair service, please contact A&L Corona Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can fix all name brand home appliances!

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