Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside a house often make life much less stressful, but when you use appliances unsafely, they could create evident risks. It is best to protect appliances and ensure that they won’t become hazards by adhering to these helpful appliance safety recommendations from United Appliance Repair.

The tips below can help prevent fires and injuries from home appliances. Even still, hazards can still occur. If an appliance breaks or begins to malfunction and becomes a danger, reach out to a professional appliance repair Oregon.

GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations

Laundry rooms, kitchens, entry ways, bathrooms, basements, garages and outdoor areas can be susceptible to dampness or water. As you are well aware, electricity and moisture do not go together, that means power cords and wires should always be plugged into GFCI outlets.

This can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any imbalances in electricity arise.

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

Electrical Wires, Electronics & Outlets Far Away From Water

Many home appliances are manufactured for the outdoors, like charcoal and gas grills, for example. If you have electrical appliances outdoors – including refrigerators, dishwashers, ice makers, power tools and others – be sure that all plugs and outlets are dry. Using weatherproof electronics help with this, combined with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are a Temporary Solution

An extension cord poses many risks, this includes:

  • The potential for a loose connection that could cause sparks and start a fire.
  • The chance of power inconsistencies that may damage the appliance.
  • Greater susceptibility to moisture penetration that may lead to electrocution.
  • The potential for wires 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 short-term use, ensure it is the correct gauge for the electrical equipment in question. The lower the gauge, the greater the wire size. For instance, a household extension cord for a radio might have a 16-gauge cord while a longer cord for a window air conditioner requires a 12-gauge wire.

Length is also a factor. The longer the extension cord, the more power is used up on the way, something called voltage drop. Short cords are advised for power tools and similar outdoor equipment.

Read the Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Purchase

It is easy to assume that you know how to operate a brand new home appliance without consulting the manual, but reading the manufacturer guidelines is important for a lot of reasons:

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

You learn about complicated features you would not have otherwise have known.
You understand if the new appliance is intended for outdoor locations or not.

You do not have the stress that can come from trying to start a appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home if You Are Not Using Them

You are able to reduce unnecessary energy use by unplugging appliances when you are not using them. This is because small appliances often include LED lights, clocks and other features while in standby times.

Unplug TVs, monitors, routers, game systems, smart phone chargers and more to reduce wasteful energy usage. But remember, it’s alright to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to not miss their automatic background features.

For more tips on how to use appliances safely, or to hire a local appliance repair company, please contact United Appliance Repair. Our technicians can repair all common household appliances!

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