The appliances inside your home often make your life much less stressful, but if you use them incorrectly, they might create significant health risks. You will want to care for your appliances and be sure they do not become dangers by adhering to these helpful household appliance safety recommendations from ASAP Scottsdale Appliance Repair.
The tips below can help to prevent fires and injuries due to broken home appliances. That being said, hazards can still occur. In the event an appliance has problems or starts to malfunction and becomes a danger, call a local appliance repair Scottsdale.
Install GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations in Your Home
Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages can be susceptible to possible moisture or dripping water. Of course, electricity and water don’t go together, therefore electrical cords and wires should be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).
This will prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit if any inconsistencies in electricity occur.
If you do not currently have GFCI outlets installed in wet rooms around your home, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in Scottsdale. Then, for further safety measures, follow the warnings of certain appliance manuals that note that an appliance is not for outdoor use.
Electrical Wires, Outlets & Electronics Away From Wet Areas
Many home appliances are built for the outdoors, such as gas and charcoal grills, for example. If you have any electrical appliances outside – including refrigerators, dishwashers, ice makers, electric tools and others – monitor that all of the cords and outlets are dry. Using weatherproof electronics can help, combined with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.
Extension Cords are Only a Temporary Option
An extension cord poses many risks, this includes:
The likelihood of a loose connection that could create sparks and start a fire.
The likelihood of power interruptions that would break the appliance.
Greater vulnerability to water penetration that can lead to electrocution.
The chance of cords overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is combined with a high-power appliance.
When determining an extension cord for temporary use, be sure it’s the appropriate gauge for the electrical appliance in question. The smaller the gauge, the bigger the cord size. For instance, a simple extension cord for a radio could have a 16-gauge wire where a larger cord for a AC unit requires a 12-gauge wire.
The length of the cord is also important. The longer the cord is, the more power is gone enroute, this is known as voltage drop. Short extension cords are good for electric tools and outdoor equipment.
Always Read the Operating Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Buy
It is simple to assume that you know how to operate a brand new dishwasher or washing machine without consulting the manual, but consulting the guidelines is necessary for many reasons:
You should find out if your house’s wiring is sufficient to power the new appliance. You might need to install a better circuit to stop overloading any existing ones.
You learn about advanced features you would not have otherwise known.
You learn if the appliance is intended for outdoor locations or not.
You do not have the stress that can come from trying to operate a new home appliance with no instructions!
Unplug Small Appliances if You Are Not Using Them
You are able to limit unnecessary energy consumption by unplugging appliances when not in use. The reason is small appliances sometimes include LED indicators, clocks and other energy-consuming features standby mode.
Unplug TVs, computer monitors, routers, video game consoles, phone chargers and more to stop wasteful energy use. Just remember, it’s OK to keep DVRs and similar electronics plugged in to not miss their background features.
For more tips on ways to use appliances safely, or to schedule a professional appliance repair service, please contact ASAP Scottsdale Appliance Repair. Our technicians can fix all name brand household appliances!
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