The appliances inside a home often make life much easier, but if you use appliances incorrectly, they might produce evident risks. You should care for appliances and make sure they do not turn into hazards by adhering to these helpful appliance safety tips from Palmdale Appliance Repair.
The tips in this post help to prevent fires and injuries due to household appliances. Even still, hazards might still happen. In the event an appliance breaks or starts to malfunction and becomes a danger, call a professional appliance repair Palmdale.
Install GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations in a Home
Laundry rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, basements, garages and outdoor areas are all susceptible to possible wetness or water. As you well know, electricity and moisture do not mix, so electrical cords should be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).
This particular type of electrical outlet can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit if any imbalances in electricity are detected.
If you don’t already have GFCI outlets installed in damp areas around your house, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in Palmdale. Then, for safety measures, heed the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that indicate they are not for outdoor use.
Electrical Cords, Electronics & Outlets Away From Water
A lot of appliances are designed for outdoor use, like charcoal and gas grills. If you use electrical appliances outside – including refrigerators, dishwashers, ice makers, electric tools and more – monitor that all of the plugs and outlets are 100% dry. Weatherproof electronics will help, as do GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.
Extension Cords are a Temporary Answer
An extension cord poses many potential risks, this includes:
When determining an extension cord for limited-time use, be sure that it is the appropriate gauge for the electrical equipment in question. The smaller the gauge, the larger the size for the cord. For example, a basic extension cord for a lamp might have a 16-gauge wire whereas a bigger cord for a window air conditioner needs a 12-gauge wire.
Length is also crucial. The longer the extension cord, the more power is used up enroute, something known as voltage drop. Short cords are recommended for power tools and outdoor equipment.
Be Sure to Read the Operating Manual for Any Appliance You Purchase
It’s obvious to guess that you know how to operate a brand new dishwasher or washing machine without reading the operating manual, but reading the instructions is necessary for a lot of reasons:
You should find out whether your home’s wiring is sufficient to power the new appliance. You might have to install a better circuit to stop overloading your current ones.
You learn about complicated features you wouldn’t have otherwise known about.
You learn whether the appliance is intended for outdoor locations or not.
You do not have the stress that can come from trying to run a new home appliance without instructions!
Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home if You Are Not Using Them
You can prevent unnecessary energy usage by unplugging appliances when not in use. This is because small appliances often include LED indicators, clocks and other energy-consuming features while in standby mode.
Unplug televisions, computer monitors, internet routers, video game consoles, phone chargers and more to cut back on wasteful energy consumption. But remember, it’s OK to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to prevent missing out on their background features.
For more tips on ways to use home appliances safely, or to schedule a local appliance repair service, please contact Palmdale Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can fix all name brand household appliances!
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