Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside your home make life much less stressful, but if you use them incorrectly, they might create noticeable health risks. It is important to maintain appliances and be sure they won’t become hazards by adhering to these household appliance safety tips from Garden Grove Appliance Repair.

The professional tips below will help prevent fires and injuries related to appliances. However, hazards can still occur. If a home appliance breaks or malfunctions and becomes dangerous, hire a professional appliance repair Garden Grove.

GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations

Laundry rooms, kitchens, entry ways, bathrooms, basements, mud rooms, garages and outdoor areas are all susceptible to moisture or water. As you are well aware, electricity and moisture do not mix, so electrical cords and wires should always be plugged into GFCI outlets.

This prevents electrocution by tripping the circuit if any imbalances in power are detected.

If you do not have GFCI outlets installed in wet rooms around your house, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in Garden Grove. Once that is done, for safety, you will want to heed the warnings of appliance manuals that indicate an appliance is not meant for outdoor areas.

Wires, Outlets & Electronics Away From Water

Many home appliances are specifically designed for outdoor use, like barbecue grills, for example. If you make us of electrical appliances outside – including refrigerators, dishwashers, ice makers and freezers, power tools and others – monitor that all of the cords and outlets are 100% dry. Using weatherproof electronics can help with this, along with GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are Only a Temporary Option

An extension cord poses many noticeable risks, including:

The potential for a loose connection that might create sparks and cause a fire.
The chance of power interruptions that would break the appliance.
Greater susceptibility to water penetration that can lead to electrocution.
The potential for wires overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is paired with a high-power appliance.

When deciding on an extension cord for temporary use, ensure it’s the correct gauge for the electrical equipment in question. The lower the gauge, the greater the size for the wire. For instance, a household extension cord for a garden tool might have a 16-gauge cord while a big cord for a air conditioner needs a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also important. The longer the cord is, the more power is gone on the way, this is referred to as voltage drop. Short cords are good for power tools and similar equipment.

Always Be Sure to Read the Operating Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Purchase

It’s easy to guess that you know how to operate your new appliance without reading the manual, but consulting the guidelines is important for several reasons:

You should find out whether your house’s electrical wiring is sufficient to power the new appliance. You might have to install a circuit to prevent overloading your current ones.

You learn about advanced features you would not have otherwise have known about.
You learn whether the appliance is OK for outdoor locations or not.

You avoid the frustration that can sometimes come from attempting to run a appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances When Not Being Used

You can stop unnecessary energy usage by unplugging appliances when you aren’t operating them. This is because small appliances include LED indicators, clocks and other energy-consuming features standby mode.

Unplug TVs, monitors, internet routers, video game consoles, phone chargers and more to limit wasteful energy consumption. But remember, it’s worthwhile to keep DVRs and similar electronics plugged in to not miss their automatic background functions.

For more tips on using appliances safely, or to schedule a professional appliance repair company, please contact Garden Grove Appliance Repair. We can fix all major home appliances!

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