The appliances in a home can make your life easier, but if you use household appliances incorrectly, they could produce noticeable health risks. It is important to protect appliances and ensure that they will not become hazards by adhering to these appliance safety recommendations from Prime Provo Appliance Repair.
The tips below help to prevent fires and injuries due to kitchen appliances. However, hazards might still occur. In the event an appliance has issues or malfunctions and becomes a safety issue, call a local appliance repair Provo.
GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations in Your Home
Laundry rooms, kitchens, entry ways, bathrooms, basements, garages and outdoor areas are all susceptible to wetness or water. Of course, electricity and water don’t go together, therefore power cords and wires should always be plugged into GFCI outlets.
This special type of outlet can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any inconsistencies in electricity are detected.
If you don’t have GFCI outlets in damp locations around your home, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in Provo. After that, for safety, you will want to heed the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that indicate a home appliance is not designed for outdoor areas.
Cords, Electronics & Outlets Far Away From Water
Several appliances are designed for outdoor use, such as barbecue grills, for example. If you make us of electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers, power tools and more – monitor that all of the outlets and plugs are 100% dry. Using weatherproof electronics can help with this, combined with GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.
Extension Cords are Only a Temporary Answer
Extension cords pose a lot of evident risks, including:
The potential for a loose connection that can create sparks and start a fire.
The likelihood of power inconsistencies that might damage the appliance.
Increased vulnerability to moisture penetration that could lead to electrocution.
The potential for wires overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an low-quality extension cord is combined with a high-power appliance.
When determining an extension cord for temporary use, make sure it is the appropriate gauge for the home appliance in question. The lower the gauge, the bigger the size for the wire. For instance, a electrical extension cord for a lamp might have a 16-gauge cord while a larger cord for a air conditioner unit uses a 12-gauge wire.
Length is also important. The longer the cord, the more electricity is gone enroute, this is referred to as voltage drop. Shorter extension cords are recommended for electric tools and equipment.
Read the Manual for Any Appliance You Purchase
It is easy to assume that you know how to operate your brand new appliance without reading the operating manual, but reading the guidelines is necessary for many reasons:
You will find out if your home’s wiring is enough to power the new appliance. You may need to install a better circuit to prevent overloading your current ones.
You learn about advanced features you wouldn’t have otherwise known about.
You discover if the appliance is intended for outdoor areas or not.
You do not have the stress that can come from trying to run a new appliance with no instructions!
Unplug Small Appliances When Not Being Used
You can prevent unnecessary energy usage by unplugging small appliances when you are not using them. This is because small appliances include LED lights, timers and other energy-consuming features standby times.
Unplug televisions, computer monitors, internet routers, game systems, cellphone chargers and more to stop unnecessary energy usage. Just remember, it is alright to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to not miss their automatic background features.
For extra tips on ways to use appliances safely, or to hire a local appliance repair company, please contact Prime Provo Appliance Repair. We can fix all common home appliances!
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