The appliances inside your house often make your life much easier, but if you operate household appliances incorrectly, they could create evident risks. It is important to care for appliances and make sure they do not turn into hazards by adhering to these household appliance safety recommendations from Rapid Riverside Appliance Repair.
The professional tips in this article help to prevent fires and injuries due to broken home appliances. However, hazards can still happen. In the event a home appliance breaks or malfunctions and becomes a danger, call a professional appliance repair Riverside.
GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations in a Home
Kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, bathrooms, garages and outdoor areas are all susceptible to wetness or dripping water. Of course, electricity and water do not mix, so electrical cords should always be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).
This prevents electrocution by tripping the circuit when any inconsistencies in power occur.
If you don’t have GFCI outlets in wet areas around your house, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in Riverside. Once that is done, for further safety, follow the warnings of certain appliance manuals that indicate they are not designed for outdoor areas.
Electrical Wires, Outlets & Electronics Away From Water
Quite a few appliances are specially designed for the outdoors, such as charcoal and gas grills. If you use electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers and freezers, power tools and others – monitor that all cords and outlets are 100% dry. Weatherproof electronics help with this, as do GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.
Extension Cords are a Temporary Solution
An extension cord poses a lot of evident risks, including:
The chance for a loose connection that might lead to sparks and a fire.
The chance of power fluctuations that could break the appliance.
Increased vulnerability to moisture penetration that may cause electrocution.
The potential for cords overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an low-quality extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.
When determining an extension cord for temporary use, make sure it’s the right gauge for the electrical equipment in question. The smaller the gauge, the greater the wire size. For instance, a basic household extension cord for a radio might have a 16-gauge cord whereas a big cord for a air conditioner unit requires a 12-gauge wire.
The length of the cord is also a factor. The longer the extension cord is, the more electricity is used up enroute, this is referred to as voltage drop. Shorter extension cords are recommended for electric tools and equipment.
Always Read the Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Buy
It is easy to guess that you know how to use a new appliance without consulting the operating manual, but reading the instructions is important for a lot of reasons:
You will want to find out if your home’s wiring is sufficient to power the new appliance. You might have to install a new circuit to prevent overloading any existing ones.
You learn more about features you would not have otherwise known.
You understand whether the appliance is safe for outdoor areas or not.
You do not have the extreme stress that can sometimes come from trying to run a new appliance with no instructions!
Unplug Small Appliances 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 often include LED indicators, clocks and other features standby mode.
Unplug monitors, televisions, printers, modems, routers, game systems, phone chargers and more to reduce unnecessary energy usage. But remember, it is alright to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to prevent missing out on their background functions.
For more tips on ways to use home appliances safely, or to hire a professional appliance repair company, please contact Rapid Riverside Appliance Repair. We can repair all name brand home appliances!
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