Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances in your home can make life less stressful, but if you use them the wrong way, they could pose significant health risks. You should protect appliances and be sure they do not become dangers by adhering to these home appliance safety recommendations from Prime Nampa Appliance Repair.

The tips below can help prevent fires and injuries related to kitchen appliances. That being said, hazards can still happen. In the event a home appliance breaks or starts to malfunction and becomes dangerous, call a professional appliance repair Nampa.

GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations in Your Home

Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, garages and outdoor areas are all susceptible to possible wetness or dripping water. As you well know, electricity and moisture don’t go together, that means electrical cords and wires should always be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

This prevents electrocution by tripping the circuit if any imbalances in electricity arise.

If you do not have GFCI outlets installed in damp areas inside of your house, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in Nampa. After that, for further safety, follow the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that note that they are not meant for outdoor use.

Wires, Electronics & Outlets Away From Water

Quite a few home appliances are designed for the outdoors, like barbecue grills, for example. If you have electrical appliances outside – including refrigerators, dishwashers, ice makers, power tools and others – monitor that all of the plugs and outlets are 100% dry. Weatherproof electronics will help with this, combined with GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.

Extension Cords are Only a Momentary Solution

An extension cord poses many noticeable risks, including:

The chance for loose connections that could cause sparks and cause a fire.
The chance of power inconsistencies that will damage the appliance.
Increased susceptibility to moisture penetration that could lead to electrocution.
The probability of cords overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an low-quality extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.

When deciding on an extension cord for temporary use, ensure that it’s the correct gauge for the electrical appliance in question. The lower the gauge, the greater the size for the cord. For instance, a basic household extension cord for a radio will have a 16-gauge wire whereas a heavy-duty cord for a air conditioner needs a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also crucial. The longer the cord is, the more electricity is gone enroute, something known as voltage drop. Shorter extension cords are good for electric tools and equipment.

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

It is obvious to guess that you know how to operate your new home appliance without reading the operating manual, but consulting the manufacturer guidelines is necessary for a lot of reasons:

You should find out if your house’s wiring is sufficient to power the new appliance. You may have to install a new circuit to prevent overloading any current ones.

You learn more about features you would not have otherwise have known about.
You understand whether the new appliance is intended for outdoor use or not.

You don’t have the extreme frustration that can come from attempting to start a new appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances When Not in Use

You are able to limit unnecessary energy use by unplugging them when not in use. This is because small appliances often include LED signals, timers and other energy-draining features during standby times.

Unplug monitors, TVs, modems, printers, internet routers, video game systems, phone chargers and more to cut back on unnecessary energy usage. Just remember, it is alright to keep DVRs and similar electronics plugged in to not miss their automatic background functions.

For additional tips on how to use appliances safely, or to schedule a professional appliance repair company, please contact Prime Nampa Appliance Repair. Our technicians can fix all common home appliances!

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