The appliances in your home can make your life much easier, but if you operate them incorrectly, they might pose significant health risks. You should protect appliances and be sure they don’t become dangers by adhering to these helpful household appliance safety suggestions from Crown Pomona Appliance Repair.
The professional tips below help to prevent fires and injuries due to broken appliances. Even still, hazards can still happen. If a home appliance has problems or begins to malfunction and becomes a safety issue, reach out to a local appliance repair Pomona.
GFCI Outlets in Wet Locations in Your Home
Kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, bathrooms, outdoor areas and garages are all susceptible to dampness or water. Of course, electricity and moisture don’t go together, that means power cords and wires should be plugged into GFCI outlets.
This type of outlet prevents electrocution by tripping the circuit if any interruptions in electricity are detected.
If you do not currently have GFCI outlets installed in damp locations inside and around your house, it is time to install them or call an electrician in Pomona. Once that is done, for even more safety, follow the warnings of certain appliance manuals that note that they are not designed for outdoor areas.
Electrical Wires, Electronics & Outlets Away From Wet Areas
Several appliances are specially manufactured for outdoor areas, such as barbecue grills. If you have electrical appliances outside – including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers, electric tools and more – monitor that all of the outlets and plugs are not wet. Weatherproof electronics help with this, along with GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.
Extension Cords are a Temporary Option
An extension cord poses many noticeable risks, including:
The chance for loose connections that can create sparks and start a fire.
The chance of power fluctuations that would break the appliance.
Increased susceptibility to moisture penetration that could lead to electrocution.
The chance of wires overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an low-quality extension cord is combined with a high-power appliance.
When choosing an extension cord for temporary use, be sure that it is the right gauge for the electrical tool in question. The lower the gauge, the bigger the wire size. For example, a basic extension cord for a radio might have a 16-gauge cord while a longer cord for a AC unit requires a 12-gauge wire.
The length of the cord is also important. The longer the extension cord is, the more electricity is gone on the way, a phenomenon referred to as voltage drop. Shorter cords are advised for electric tools and similar outdoor equipment.
Be Sure to Read the Operating Manual for Any Appliance You Buy
It’s obvious to guess that you know how to use your new washing machine or dishwasher without consulting the manual, but consulting the manufacturer guidelines is important for a lot of reasons:
You will find out if your house’s electrical wiring is sufficient to support the new appliance. You might have to install a new circuit to prevent overloading any existing ones.
You learn about advanced features you would not have otherwise known.
You learn if the new appliance is safe for outdoor use or not.
You don’t have the extreme frustration that can sometimes come from attempting to operate a new home appliance with no instructions!
Unplug Small Appliances When Not Being Used
You can limit unnecessary energy consumption by unplugging them when you aren’t using them. This is because small appliances include LED signals, clocks and other energy-draining features while in standby mode.
Unplug monitors, TVs, modems, printers, internet routers, game consoles, phone chargers and more to limit unnecessary energy consumption. But remember, it is worthwhile to keep DVRs and similar electronics plugged in to not miss their automatic background functions.
For additional tips on how to use home appliances safely, or to hire a professional appliance repair company, please contact Crown Pomona Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can fix all common household appliances!
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