Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside your house make life much easier, but when you use household appliances incorrectly, they might create significant health risks. You should maintain appliances and ensure that they do not turn into dangers by following these helpful home appliance safety suggestions from Champion Deltona Appliance Repair.

The professional tips below help to prevent fires and injuries related to broken household appliances. However, hazards could still happen. In the event a home appliance has issues or malfunctions and becomes dangerous, reach out to a professional appliance repair Deltona.

Install GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations

Kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, bathrooms, garages and outdoor areas are susceptible to possible moisture or water. As you well know, electricity and water do not go together, that means electrical cords should be plugged into GFCI outlets.

This particular type of outlet can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit if any interruptions in power are detected.

If you don’t already have GFCI outlets in wet rooms around your home, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in Deltona. Once that is done, for further safety, follow the warnings of appliance manuals that indicate they are not designed for outdoor use.

Electrical Cords, Outlets & Electronics Away From Damp Areas

A lot of appliances are manufactured for outdoor use, such as charcoal and gas grills. If you have any electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers and freezers, power tools and more – ensure that all cords and outlets are 100% dry. Weatherproof electronics help with this, combined with GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are Only a Momentary Option

An extension cord poses many potential risks, this includes:

The potential for loose connections that might result in sparks and start a fire.
The chance of power fluctuations that may break the appliance.
Greater vulnerability to water penetration that may cause electrocution.
The potential for cords overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is paired with a high-power appliance.

When choosing an extension cord for limited-time use, make sure that it’s the correct gauge for the electrical equipment in question. The lower the gauge, the greater the size for the cord. For instance, a simple extension cord for a lamp will have a 16-gauge cord while a heavy-duty cord for a air conditioner uses a 12-gauge wire.

The length of the cord is also crucial. The longer the cord, the more electricity is lost on the way, this is known as voltage drop. Short extension cords are good for power tools and equipment.

Read the Operating Manual for Any Appliance You Purchase

It is simple to assume that you know how to use your new dishwasher or washing machine without consulting the manual, but reading the guidelines is important for a lot of reasons:

You will find out whether your house’s wiring is sufficient to support the appliance. You may have to install a better circuit to stop overloading any existing ones.

You learn more about complicated features you wouldn’t have otherwise known.
You discover whether the new appliance is safe for outdoor locations or not.

You do not have the extreme stress that can sometimes come from trying to use a new home appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home When Not in Use

You are able to stop unnecessary energy usage by unplugging appliances when not in use. The reason is small appliances sometimes include LED lights, clocks and other energy-draining features while in standby times.

Unplug televisions, computer monitors, routers, game systems, smart phone chargers and more to reduce wasteful energy usage. But remember, it’s OK to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to not miss their automatic background functions.

For extra tips on ways to use appliances safely, or to hire a professional appliance repair service, please contact Champion Deltona Appliance Repair. Our technicians can fix all popular home appliances!

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