Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside of a home make life easier, but if you use them unsafely, they might create noticeable risks. It is best to maintain appliances and ensure that they will not turn into dangers by adhering to these helpful household appliance safety suggestions from Metro Appliance Repair.

The tips below can help prevent fires and injuries due to appliances. That being said, hazards can still occur. If an appliance breaks or malfunctions and becomes dangerous, hire a appliance repair Silver Spring.

GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations in Your Home

Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, garages and outdoor areas can be susceptible to possible dampness or water. As you well know, electricity and water do not go together, therefore electrical cords and wires should always be plugged into GFCI outlets.

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

If you don’t have GFCI outlets installed in damp rooms around your home, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in Silver Spring. Once that is done, for safety measures, you will want to heed the warnings of certain appliance manuals that note that an appliance is not for outdoor areas.

Cords, Electronics & Outlets Far Away From Water

Several appliances are specially built for outdoor use, like barbecue grills. If you make us of any electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers, power tools and others – be sure that all of the cords and outlets are not wet. Weatherproof electronics will help, combined with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are Only a Momentary Solution

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

The chance for a loose connection that sometimes can cause sparks and start a fire.
The likelihood of power inconsistencies that may damage the appliance.
Increased susceptibility to moisture penetration that may lead to electrocution.
The probability of cords overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an insufficient extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.

When determining an extension cord for limited-time use, ensure that it is the appropriate gauge for the electrical equipment in question. The lower the gauge, the bigger the size for the cord. For instance, a electrical extension cord for a radio could have a 16-gauge wire where a bigger cord for a AC unit requires a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also a factor. The longer the extension cord is, the more electricity is gone enroute, this is called voltage drop. Shorter cords are advised for electric tools and outdoor equipment.

Always Read the Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Buy

It is easy to guess that you know how to operate your brand new dishwasher or washing machine without consulting the manual, but reading the manufacturer guidelines is important for many reasons:

You will want to find out whether your home’s electrical wiring is enough to power the new appliance. You might need to install a new circuit to prevent overloading any existing ones.

You learn about features you might not otherwise have known about.
You discover whether the new appliance is safe for outdoor areas or not.

You do not have the extreme stress that can come from attempting to start a new home appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home When Not Being Used

You can reduce unnecessary energy consumption by unplugging appliances when not in use. This is because small appliances often include LED indicators, clocks and other energy-consuming features standby mode.

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

For even more tips on using home appliances safely, or to schedule a local appliance repair company, please contact Metro Appliance Repair. Our technicians can fix all common home appliances!

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