The appliances in a home often make life less stressful, but if you use them unsafely, they could produce significant risks. It is best to care for appliances and make sure they won’t become dangers by adhering to these home appliance safety recommendations from Legacy League City Appliance Repair.
The professional tips in this post will help to prevent fires and injuries due to broken kitchen appliances. However, hazards could still occur. In the event an appliance has problems or starts to malfunction and becomes a danger, reach out to a professional appliance repair Texas.
Install GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations
Laundry rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, basements, garages and outdoor areas can be susceptible to possible moisture or dripping water. As you are well aware, electricity and moisture don’t go together, that means power cords and wires should be plugged into GFCI outlets.
This type of electrical outlet will prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any interruptions in power occur.
If you do not have GFCI outlets in damp areas inside of your house, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in Texas. After that, for further safety measures, you will want to heed the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that note that an appliance is not designed for outdoor areas.
Wires, Outlets & Electronics Far Away From Wet Areas
Many home appliances are specially designed for the outdoors, such as charcoal and gas grills, for example. If you have electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers, electric tools and more – ensure that all of the outlets and plugs are dry. Weatherproof electronics will help, along with GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.
Extension Cords are a Momentary Solution
Extension cords pose many noticeable risks, including:
When deciding on an extension cord for short-term use, ensure it’s the appropriate gauge for the electrical appliance in question. The lower the gauge, the larger the size for the cord. For example, a basic extension cord for a radio might have a 16-gauge wire where a larger cord for a AC unit needs a 12-gauge wire.
Length is also a factor. The longer the extension cord is, the more electricity is used up enroute, a phenomenon called voltage drop. Shorter cords are recommended for power tools and equipment.
Be Sure to Read the Operating Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Buy
It’s obvious to guess that you know how to operate your new dishwasher or washing machine without reading the manual, but consulting the manufacturer guidelines is important for several reasons:
You should find out if your house’s wiring is enough to power the new appliance. You might need to install a circuit to prevent overloading any current ones.
You learn about features you would not have otherwise known.
You learn whether the appliance is intended for outdoor locations or not.
You do not have the extreme frustration that can sometimes come from attempting to use a new home appliance without instructions!
Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home if You Are Not Using Them
You are able to reduce unnecessary energy usage by unplugging them when not in use. The reason is small appliances sometimes include LED indicators, timers and other energy-draining features standby mode.
Unplug TVs, computer monitors, routers, game consoles, smart phone chargers and more to stop unnecessary energy consumption. Just remember, it is alright to keep DVRs and similar electronics plugged in to not miss their automatic background functions.
For more tips on ways to use appliances safely, or to hire a professional appliance repair service, please contact Legacy League City Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can fix all major home appliances!
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