Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside of a home can make life much easier, but if you use household appliances incorrectly, they could produce significant risks. You will want to maintain appliances and ensure that they don’t turn into dangers by adhering to these home appliance safety recommendations from EZ Boise Appliance Repair.

The tips in this post help to prevent fires and injuries related to broken kitchen appliances. Even still, hazards can still happen. In the event an appliance has issues or begins to malfunction and becomes dangerous, hire a professional appliance repair Boise.

Install GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations

Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, garages and outdoor areas can be susceptible to possible wetness or dripping water. Of course, electricity and moisture do not go together, therefore power cords and wires should be plugged into GFCI outlets.

This type of outlet can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit if any interruptions in power occur.

If you do not already have GFCI outlets in damp areas inside of your home, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in Boise. Once that is done, for safety measures, follow the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that indicate they are not for outdoor use.

Cords, Outlets & Electronics Far Away From Damp Areas

Many appliances are specially manufactured for outdoor use, like barbecue grills. If you make us of electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers, power tools and others – be sure that all outlets and plugs are 100% dry. Weatherproof electronics help, combined with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are a Temporary Answer

Extension cords can pose several risks, this includes:

The potential for loose connections that could create sparks and cause a fire.
The likelihood of power interruptions that might damage the appliance.
Greater vulnerability to moisture penetration that may result in electrocution.
The chance of cords overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is paired with a high-power appliance.

When choosing an extension cord for limited-time use, make sure that it is the right gauge for the electrical equipment in question. The lower the gauge, the larger the size for the wire. For example, a basic household extension cord for a lamp could have a 16-gauge wire where a larger cord for a AC unit uses a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also a factor. The longer the extension cord, the more electricity is lost on the way, this is known as voltage drop. Short extension cords are advised for electric tools and outdoor equipment.

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

It is easy to guess that you know how to use a new home appliance without consulting the operating manual, but reading the instructions is necessary for a lot of reasons:

You will find out whether your home’s electrical wiring is sufficient to support the appliance. You may need to install a circuit to stop overloading your existing ones.

You learn more about advanced features you wouldn’t have otherwise known about.
You understand if the appliance is OK for outdoor use or not.

You do not have the extreme stress that can sometimes come from attempting to use a new home appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances When Not Being Used

You are able to stop unnecessary energy usage by unplugging appliances when not in use. This is because small appliances sometimes include LED indicators, clocks and other features during standby mode.

Unplug monitors, televisions, printers, modems, internet routers, video game consoles, cellphone chargers and more to cut back on unnecessary energy consumption. Just remember, it’s alright to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to prevent missing out on their background functions.

For more tips on ways to use appliances safely, or to call a professional appliance repair service, please contact EZ Boise Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can repair all name brand household appliances!

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