The appliances in a home make your life less stressful, but if you use household appliances incorrectly, they might produce significant health risks. It is important to maintain your appliances and ensure that they don’t become dangers by adhering to these home appliance safety tips from Choice Covington Appliance Repair.
The professional tips in this article can help prevent fires and injuries due to home appliances. Even still, hazards might still occur. In the event an appliance breaks or begins to malfunction and becomes dangerous, reach out to a local appliance repair Covington.
GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations in Your Home
Laundry rooms, kitchens, basements, bathrooms, outdoor areas and garages can be susceptible to possible moisture or water. As you are well aware, electricity and moisture don’t mix, so electrical cords should always be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).
This will prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any inconsistencies in power are detected.
If you don’t already have GFCI outlets installed in damp areas inside and around your house, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in Covington. After that, for further safety, follow the warnings of appliance manuals that note that they are not meant for outdoor areas.
Electrical Cords, Electronics & Outlets Far Away From Water
A lot of home appliances are designed for outdoor areas, like gas and charcoal grills, for example. If you make us of any electrical appliances outside – including refrigerators, dishwashers, ice makers and freezers, power tools and more – monitor that all outlets and plugs are 100% dry. Weatherproof electronics help with this, as do GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.
Extension Cords are Only a Temporary Solution
Extension cords can pose many risks, this includes:
When choosing an extension cord for temporary use, be sure that it’s the appropriate gauge for the home appliance in question. The smaller the gauge, the greater the cord size. For example, a electrical extension cord for a lamp may have a 16-gauge cord while a larger cord for a AC unit uses a 12-gauge wire.
Length is also important. The longer the cord is, the more power is used up on the way, also referred to as voltage drop. Shorter extension cords are good for electric tools and similar outdoor equipment.
Be Sure to Read the Operating Manual for Any Appliance You Buy
It’s simple to assume that you know how to use your new appliance without consulting the operating manual, but consulting the manufacturer guidelines is necessary for a lot of reasons:
You should find out whether your house’s electrical wiring is sufficient to support the appliance. You may need to install a circuit to stop overloading any existing ones.
You learn about features you would not have otherwise have known about.
You understand if the appliance is OK for outdoor use or not.
You don’t have the extreme stress that can come from attempting to use a home appliance without instructions!
Unplug Small Appliances When Not Being Used
You can limit unnecessary energy usage by unplugging small appliances when you aren’t using them. This is because small appliances often include LED lights, clocks and other features during standby times.
Unplug monitors, televisions, printers, modems, routers, video game systems, phone chargers and more to stop unnecessary energy usage. Just remember, it’s worthwhile to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to prevent missing out on their background functions.
For more tips on using appliances safely, or to hire a professional appliance repair service, please contact Choice Covington Appliance Repair. Our technicians can fix all major home appliances!
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