Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in a house can make your life less stressful, but if you use them the wrong way, they might produce significant risks. You will want to protect your appliances and ensure that they won’t turn into hazards by following these home appliance safety recommendations from Foster Appliance Repair.

The professional tips in this post help to prevent fires and injuries due to broken kitchen appliances. That being said, hazards might still occur. In the event an appliance has issues or malfunctions and becomes a danger, hire a appliance repair company in Knoxville.

Install GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations

Kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, bathrooms, garages and outdoor areas are susceptible to possible dampness or dripping water. As you are well aware, electricity and moisture don’t mix, so power cords should be plugged into GFCI outlets.

This special type of outlet prevents electrocution by tripping the circuit when any interruptions in power are detected.

If you don’t have GFCI outlets in wet rooms around your home, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in Knoxville. After that, for even more safety measures, follow the warnings of certain appliance manuals that note that a household appliance is not designed for outdoor areas.

Electrical Cords, Outlets & Electronics Away From Water

Some appliances are manufactured for outdoor areas, like barbecue grills. If you have electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers, electric tools and others – be sure that all outlets and cords are 100% dry. Using weatherproof electronics help with this, along with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are Only a Momentary Option

An extension cord poses many evident risks, including:

The potential for a loose connection that might cause sparks and start a fire.
The chance of power inconsistencies that may damage the appliance.
Increased vulnerability to water penetration that might lead to electrocution.
The chance of cords overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.

When choosing an extension cord for short-term use, make sure it is the right gauge for the electrical appliance in question. The smaller the gauge, the greater the size for the wire. For instance, a basic extension cord for a lamp may have a 16-gauge wire where a bigger cord for a AC unit needs a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also a factor. The longer the cord, the more electricity is lost on the way, a phenomenon called voltage drop. Shorter extension cords are recommended for electric tools and outdoor equipment.

Be Sure to Read the Operating Manual for Any Appliance You Buy

It’s obvious to guess that you know how to use a brand new appliance without consulting the operating manual, but reading the manufacturer instructions is important for many reasons:

You will find out if your home’s electrical wiring is sufficient to power the new appliance. You might have to install a circuit to prevent overloading your existing ones.

You learn about complicated features you might not otherwise have known.
You learn whether the appliance is OK for outdoor use or not.

You don’t have the extreme frustration that can come from trying to operate a home appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home When Not Being Used

You can stop unnecessary energy use by unplugging small appliances when not in use. This is because small appliances sometimes include LED lights, clocks and other energy-draining features while in standby mode.

Unplug monitors, televisions, printers, modems, routers, video game systems, phone chargers and more to reduce unnecessary energy usage. But remember, it’s worthwhile to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to not miss their background functions.

For extra tips on ways to use appliances safely, or to call a professional appliance repair company, please contact Foster Appliance Repair. Our technicians can repair all name brand household appliances!

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