Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside a house can make your life much easier, but if you operate appliances the wrong way, they could produce noticeable risks. You will want to maintain your appliances and make sure they won’t turn into dangers by adhering to these helpful household appliance safety tips from F&S Fort Worth Appliance Repair.

The professional tips below help to prevent fires and injuries related to appliances. Even still, hazards can still occur. In the event a home appliance has issues or starts to malfunction and becomes a danger, hire a professional appliance repair Fort Worth.

GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations in Your Home

Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages can be susceptible to moisture or dripping water. As you are well aware, electricity and water don’t mix, so power cords and wires should always be plugged into GFCI outlets.

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

If you don’t currently have GFCI outlets in wet locations inside and around your house, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in Fort Worth. Once that is done, for even more safety measures, follow the warnings of certain appliance manuals that indicate a home appliance is not meant for outdoor areas.

Electrical Wires, Electronics & Outlets Away From Water

A lot of appliances are built for the outdoors, like gas and charcoal grills, for example. If you use electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers, electric tools and more – monitor that all outlets and plugs are not wet. Weatherproof electronics can help, combined with GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are Only a Temporary Answer

An extension cord poses many noticeable risks, this includes:

The likelihood of a loose connection that might cause sparks and cause a fire.
The chance of power interruptions that may break the appliance.
Increased vulnerability to moisture penetration that can cause electrocution.
The likelihood of wires overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an insufficient extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.

When deciding on an extension cord for limited-time use, ensure that it’s the appropriate gauge for the electrical tool in question. The smaller the gauge, the greater the size for the cord. For instance, a household extension cord for a radio may have a 16-gauge wire while a heavy-duty cord for a air conditioner unit requires a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also important. The longer the extension cord, the more power is gone on the way, this is called voltage drop. Shorter cords are recommended for power tools and outdoor equipment.

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

It is obvious to guess that you know how to use your brand new washing machine or dishwasher without consulting the operating manual, but reading the manufacturer instructions is important for many reasons:

You should find out whether your house’s wiring is enough to support the appliance. You might need to install a circuit to stop overloading your existing ones.

You learn more about advanced features you wouldn’t have otherwise known.
You understand whether the appliance is intended for outdoor use or not.

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

Unplug Small Appliances if You Aren’t Using Them

You are able to limit unnecessary energy usage by unplugging them when you are not operating them. This is because small appliances often include LED lights, timers and other energy-draining features during standby mode.

Unplug monitors, TVs, modems, printers, routers, game consoles, smart phone chargers and more to limit unnecessary energy use. But remember, it is alright to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to prevent missing out on their background features.

For extra tips on how to use home appliances safely, or to call a professional appliance repair service, please contact F&S Fort Worth Appliance Repair. We can repair all name brand household appliances!

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