Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside a home often make life much less stressful, but if you use them unsafely, they could pose noticeable health risks. It is best to maintain appliances and make sure they will not turn into dangers by following these appliance safety tips from St. Petersburg Appliance Repair.

The tips below will help prevent fires and injuries due to broken household appliances. That being said, hazards might still happen. If a home appliance has issues or starts to malfunction and becomes a danger, call a professional appliance repair St. Petersburg.

Install GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations

Laundry rooms, kitchens, entry ways, basements, bathrooms, mud rooms, garages and outdoor areas are all susceptible to possible dampness or dripping water. As you well know, electricity and water do not mix, so electrical cords should always be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

This will prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit if any interruptions in electricity arise.

If you do not have GFCI outlets in damp areas inside and around your home, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in St. Petersburg. Then, for even more safety measures, follow the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that indicate an appliance is not for outdoor areas.

Electrical Cords, Outlets & Electronics Far Away From Wet Areas

Several appliances are specially manufactured for the outdoors, such as barbecue grills, for example. If you use electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers and freezers, power tools and others – be sure that all outlets and cords are not wet. Weatherproof electronics will help with this, along with GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are a Temporary Answer

An extension cord poses many evident risks, this includes:

The chance for loose connections that could lead to sparks and a fire.
The chance of power interruptions that can ruin the appliance.
Increased susceptibility to water penetration that can lead to electrocution.
The potential for cords overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an insufficient extension cord is used for 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 bigger the size for the wire. For instance, a basic household extension cord for a lamp might have a 16-gauge cord whereas a bigger cord for a AC unit uses a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also important. The longer the cord, the more power is gone on the way, something referred to as voltage drop. Short extension cords are advised for power tools and outdoor equipment.

Be Sure to Read the Operating Manual for Any Appliance You Buy

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

You will find out if your home’s wiring is sufficient to power the appliance. You might need to install a better circuit to prevent overloading your existing ones.

You learn more about advanced features you might not otherwise have known about.
You learn if the appliance is safe for outdoor use or not.

You do not have the extreme frustration that can sometimes come from attempting to use a new appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances if You Are Not Using Them

You can stop unnecessary energy consumption by unplugging small appliances when you are not operating them. The reason is small appliances sometimes include LED signals, timers and other features standby mode.

Unplug televisions, monitors, internet routers, video game systems, cellphone chargers and more to limit unnecessary energy usage. But remember, it is a good idea to keep DVRs and similar electronics plugged in to not miss their automatic background features.

For extra tips on using appliances safely, or to schedule a local appliance repair service, please contact St. Petersburg Appliance Repair. Our technicians can repair all major home appliances!

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