The appliances in a house often make life much less stressful, but when you use household appliances incorrectly, they might create noticeable risks. It is best to protect your appliances and ensure that they won’t turn into dangers by adhering to these helpful home appliance safety recommendations from Hoboken Appliance Repair.
The tips below will help to prevent fires and injuries related to broken appliances. Even still, hazards might still occur. If a home appliance has issues or malfunctions and becomes dangerous, hire a professional appliance repair Hoboken.
Install GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations in Your Home
Laundry rooms, kitchens, entry ways, basements, bathrooms, outdoor areas and garages can be susceptible to possible wetness or dripping water. As you well know, electricity and water don’t go together, so power cords and wires should always be plugged into GFCI outlets.
This can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any imbalances in electricity occur.
If you do not have GFCI outlets in damp locations inside and around your house, it is time to install them or call an electrician in Hoboken. After that, for safety measures, follow the warnings of certain appliance manuals that indicate a home appliance is not designed for outdoor areas.
Wires, Outlets & Electronics Away From Wet Areas
Quite a few appliances are specially manufactured for outdoor use, such as gas and charcoal grills. If you have electrical appliances outdoors – including refrigerators, dishwashers, ice makers and freezers, power tools and more – be sure that all of the outlets and cords are 100% dry. Weatherproof electronics help with this, in addition to GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.
Extension Cords are a Temporary Option
Extension cords pose a lot of potential risks, this includes:
The potential for a loose connection that could cause sparks and cause a fire.
The likelihood of power inconsistencies that might damage the appliance.
Increased vulnerability to moisture penetration that could result in electrocution.
The chance of wires overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.
When determining an extension cord for temporary use, ensure that it is the correct gauge for the electrical tool in question. The smaller the gauge, the larger the cord size. For example, a extension cord for a radio might have a 16-gauge cord while a larger cord for a AC unit uses a 12-gauge wire.
Length is also crucial. The longer the cord, the more power is lost on the way, also referred to as voltage drop. Short extension cords are recommended for power tools and similar equipment.
Read the Manual for Any Appliance You Buy
It is easy to assume that you know how to use your new washing machine or dishwasher without consulting the operating manual, but reading the manufacturer guidelines is important for many reasons:
You should find out whether your house’s wiring is enough to support the new appliance. You might have to install a circuit to prevent overloading any current ones.
You learn more about complicated features you might not otherwise known about.
You understand whether the appliance is OK for outdoor locations or not.
You don’t have the frustration that can sometimes come from trying to use a appliance without instructions!
Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home When Not Being Used
You are able to prevent unnecessary energy use by unplugging appliances when you aren’t operating them. The reason is small appliances sometimes include LED indicators, clocks and other energy-consuming features during standby mode.
Unplug TVs, monitors, internet routers, game systems, phone chargers and more to cut back on wasteful energy usage. Just remember, it is alright to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to not miss their automatic background features.
For even more tips on ways to use home appliances safely, or to call a professional appliance repair service, please contact Hoboken Appliance Repair. We can repair all common home appliances!
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