Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in a home make your life easier, but when you operate household appliances the wrong way, they might produce noticeable health risks. It is best to care for your appliances and be sure they don’t turn into dangers by following these helpful appliance safety tips from Corona Appliance Repair.

The professional tips in this post can help to prevent fires and injuries due to kitchen appliances. However, hazards could still occur. In the event a home appliance has problems or begins to malfunction and becomes dangerous, hire an appliance repair Corona service.

GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations in Your Home

Laundry rooms, kitchens, entry ways, basements, bathrooms, outdoor areas and garages are all susceptible to possible dampness or water. Of course, electricity and moisture don’t mix, so power cords should always be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

This particular type of outlet can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit if any imbalances in power occur.

If you do not already have GFCI outlets in damp locations inside of your home, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in Corona. Once that is done, for further safety, heed the warnings of certain appliance manuals that note that they are not for outdoor areas.

Electrical Wires, Electronics & Outlets Away From Damp Areas

Some appliances are specially built for outdoor areas, like gas and charcoal grills, for example. If you have electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers and freezers, power tools and others – monitor that all outlets and plugs are not wet. Weatherproof electronics help with this, combined with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are Only a Momentary Option

An extension cord poses a lot of evident risks, this includes:

The likelihood of a loose connection that could cause sparks and start a fire.
The possibility of power interruptions that might break the appliance.
Increased vulnerability to moisture penetration that can cause electrocution.
The probability of cords overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an insufficient extension cord is paired with a high-power appliance.

When deciding on an extension cord for short-term use, ensure it’s the appropriate gauge for the electrical appliance in question. The smaller the gauge, the larger the cord size. For example, a simple electrical extension cord for a garden tool may have a 16-gauge cord while a larger cord for a AC unit needs a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also crucial. The longer the extension cord, the more electricity is lost on the way, a phenomenon referred to as voltage drop. Shorter extension cords are good for electric tools and similar outdoor equipment.

Read the Manual for Any Type ofAppliance You Purchase

It’s obvious to assume that you know how to operate your new dishwasher or washing machine without reading the operating manual, but reading the manufacturer instructions is necessary for several reasons:

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

You learn about complicated features you would not have otherwise have known.
You discover whether the appliance is safe for outdoor locations or not.

You don’t have the extreme stress that can come from attempting to operate a appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home When Not Being Used

You are able to limit unnecessary energy use by unplugging appliances when you aren’t operating them. The reason is small appliances often include LED lights, timers and other energy-consuming features while in standby times.

Unplug monitors, televisions, printers, modems, routers, game consoles, phone chargers and more to cut back on unnecessary energy usage. But remember, it’s a good idea to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to not miss their automatic background functions.

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

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