The appliances in your home often make life much less stressful, but when you operate appliances incorrectly, they might pose noticeable health risks. It is important to protect appliances and ensure that they don’t turn into hazards by following these appliance safety tips from Rapid Richmond Appliance Repair.
The professional tips below help prevent fires and injuries related to broken kitchen appliances. However, hazards could still occur. In the event an appliance breaks or starts to malfunction and becomes dangerous, call a appliance repair Richmond.
GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations in a Home
Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, garages and outdoor areas are all susceptible to moisture or water. As you well know, electricity and water do not mix, so power cords should be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).
This prevents electrocution by tripping the circuit if any imbalances in electricity arise.
If you don’t have GFCI outlets installed in damp locations inside of your home, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in Richmond. After that, for safety, follow the warnings of certain appliance manuals that note that a household appliance is not meant for outdoor areas.
Electrical Wires, Outlets & Electronics Far Away From Water
Quite a few home appliances are manufactured for the outdoors, like gas and charcoal grills, for example. If you make us of electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers, power tools and others – monitor that all of the outlets and cords are not wet. Weatherproof electronics will help with this, along with GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.
Extension Cords are Only a Temporary Solution
Extension cords can pose several risks, this includes:
The chance for a loose connection that sometimes can result in sparks and start a fire.
The likelihood of power inconsistencies that would ruin the appliance.
Increased susceptibility to water penetration that could result in electrocution.
The odds of wires overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an insufficient extension cord is paired with a high-power appliance.
When choosing an extension cord for short-term use, ensure that it’s the correct gauge for the electrical equipment in question. The smaller the gauge, the bigger the cord size. For example, a basic electrical extension cord for a radio might have a 16-gauge wire where a longer cord for a AC unit uses a 12-gauge wire.
The length of the cord is also important. The longer the cord, the more electricity is lost on the way, something known as voltage drop. Short extension cords are advised for electric tools and equipment.
Read the Operating Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Buy
It is simple to guess that you know how to use a new dishwasher or washing machine without consulting the manual, but reading the manufacturer guidelines is important for a lot of reasons:
You will find out if your house’s electrical wiring is sufficient to support the new appliance. You might have to install a new circuit to prevent overloading any existing ones.
You learn about features you would not have otherwise known.
You learn if the new appliance is OK for outdoor use or not.
You avoid the frustration that can come from trying to run a home appliance with no instructions!
Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home if You Aren’t Using Them
You are able to stop unnecessary energy usage by unplugging small appliances when not in use. This is because small appliances sometimes include LED signals, timers and other features while in standby times.
Unplug monitors, TVs, printers, modems, routers, video game systems, cellphone chargers and more to stop wasteful energy usage. Just remember, it’s OK to keep DVRs and similar electronics plugged in to prevent missing out on their background features.
For extra tips on using appliances safely, or to call a local appliance repair service, please contact Rapid Richmond Appliance Repair. Our technicians can fix all common home appliances!
OTHER RESOURCES:
Appliance Repair Cost
DIY Appliance Repair Tips
Repair or Replace Appliances
Refrigerator Parts