Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside of your home make your life much less stressful, but when you use them incorrectly, they could pose significant risks. You should maintain your appliances and be sure they do not become dangers by adhering to these home appliance safety recommendations from Stone Appliance Repair.

The tips in this post help prevent fires and injuries related to appliances. Even still, hazards can still happen. If an appliance breaks or malfunctions and becomes a safety issue, call a professional appliance repair.

Install GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations

Laundry rooms, kitchens, entry ways, basements, bathrooms, outdoor areas and garages can be susceptible to possible wetness or water. As you well know, electricity and moisture do not mix, that means electrical cords and wires should be plugged into GFCI outlets.

This type of electrical outlet can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit if any imbalances in electricity are detected.

If you do not already have GFCI outlets installed in damp rooms inside of your home, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in CITY. Then, for even more safety, be sure to heed the warnings of appliance manuals that note that they are not for outdoor use.

Electrical Cords, Outlets & Electronics Away From Wet Areas

Many home appliances are built for the outdoors, such as barbecue grills, for example. If you use electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers, electric tools and more – ensure that all cords and outlets are dry. Using weatherproof electronics will help with this, as do GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are a Momentary Solution

An extension cord poses many potential risks, including:

The likelihood of a loose connection that can cause sparks and cause a fire.
The possibility of power inconsistencies that will break the appliance.
Increased susceptibility to moisture penetration that may cause electrocution.
The chance of wires overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an low-quality extension cord is combined with a high-power appliance.

When determining an extension cord for short-term use, make sure that it’s the correct gauge for the electrical tool in question. The smaller the gauge, the bigger the cord size. For instance, a basic extension cord for a garden tool could have a 16-gauge wire while a heavy-duty cord for a AC unit needs a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also a factor. The longer the cord is, the more power is gone enroute, also referred to as voltage drop. Shorter cords are advised for power tools and outdoor equipment.

Read the Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Purchase

It is obvious to assume that you know how to operate a brand new dishwasher or washing machine without consulting the operating manual, but reading the instructions is important for a lot of reasons:

You should find out whether your home’s wiring is enough to power the appliance. You might have to install a better circuit to stop overloading any current ones.

You learn about advanced features you would not have otherwise have known about.
You understand if the new appliance is OK for outdoor locations or not.

You don’t have the frustration that can sometimes come from attempting to operate a new appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances if You Aren’t Using Them

You are able to limit unnecessary energy usage by unplugging small appliances when you aren’t using them. This is because small appliances often include LED indicators, timers and other energy-draining features during standby times.

Unplug televisions, monitors, routers, video game consoles, cellphone chargers and more to limit unnecessary energy usage. But remember, it is OK to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to prevent missing out on their background functions.

For additional tips on using home appliances safely, or to hire a professional appliance repair company, please contact Stone Appliance Repair. We can repair all popular household appliances!

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Appliance Repair Cost
DIY Appliance Repair Tips
Repair or Replace Appliances
Refrigerator Parts