Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside your home can make your life much less stressful, but if you operate appliances the wrong way, they could pose significant health risks. It is best to protect appliances and ensure that they will not turn into dangers by adhering to these helpful household appliance safety tips from Tru Appliance Repair.

The tips below will help prevent fires and injuries related to broken home appliances. Even still, hazards might still happen. In the event a home appliance breaks or starts to malfunction and becomes a danger, call a professional appliance repair Massachusetts.

Install GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations in a Home

Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages are all susceptible to possible moisture or water. Of course, electricity and water don’t mix, that means power cords should be plugged into GFCI outlets.

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

If you do not have GFCI outlets installed in damp areas around your house, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in Massachusetts. After that, for even more safety measures, follow the warnings of certain appliance manuals that indicate a home appliance is not for outdoor use.

Wires, Outlets & Electronics Away From Water

A lot of home appliances are specially designed for outdoor areas, like charcoal and gas grills, for example. If you use any electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers and freezers, power tools and others – be sure that all of the plugs and outlets are not wet. Using weatherproof electronics will help with this, combined with GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are a Temporary Answer

Extension cords can pose a lot of evident risks, including:

The likelihood of loose connections that could lead to sparks and cause a fire.
The likelihood of power interruptions that could damage the appliance.
Greater vulnerability to water penetration that may result in electrocution.
The potential for wires 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 short-term use, ensure it’s the correct gauge for the electrical tool in question. The lower the gauge, the bigger the size for the cord. For example, a simple electrical extension cord for a lamp will have a 16-gauge wire whereas a heavy-duty cord for a window air conditioner needs a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also crucial. The longer the extension cord, the more electricity is lost enroute, this is referred to as voltage drop. Short cords are recommended for power tools and similar outdoor equipment.

Read the Operating Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Buy

It’s simple to guess that you know how to operate your new dishwasher or washing machine without consulting the operating manual, but consulting the guidelines is important for a lot of reasons:

You should find out whether your home’s electrical wiring is sufficient to support the appliance. You may have to install a new circuit to prevent overloading your existing ones.

You learn about features you might not otherwise have known about.
You understand if the new appliance is OK for outdoor use or not.

You avoid the stress that can sometimes come from attempting to use a new home appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances When Not Being Used

You are able to reduce unnecessary energy use by unplugging them when not in use. The reason is small appliances often include LED indicators, timers and other energy-consuming features during standby mode.

Unplug monitors, televisions, modems, printers, routers, game systems, smart phone chargers and more to stop unnecessary energy consumption. Just remember, it’s a good idea to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to not miss their background features.

For additional tips on using appliances safely, or to schedule a local appliance repair service, please contact Tru Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can fix all name brand household appliances!

OTHER RESOURCES:

Appliance Repair Cost
DIY Appliance Repair Tips
Repair or Replace Appliances
Refrigerator Parts