The appliances inside of your house often make life much easier, but if you use appliances incorrectly, they could pose significant health risks. It is important to care for appliances and make sure they do not turn into dangers by following these household appliance safety recommendations from Boulder Appliance Repair.
The professional tips below can help to prevent fires and injuries due to broken home appliances. That being said, hazards can still happen. If a home appliance has problems or begins to malfunction and becomes a safety risk, hire a professional appliance repair Boulder.
Install GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations
Kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, bathrooms, garages and outdoor areas are susceptible to possible moisture or water. As you well know, electricity and moisture don’t mix, that means electrical cords and wires should be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).
This prevents electrocution by tripping the circuit if any interruptions in electricity occur.
If you don’t currently have GFCI outlets installed in damp locations around your house, it is time to install them or call an electrician in Boulder. Once that is done, for further safety measures, you will want to heed the warnings of appliance manuals that indicate a household appliance is not for outdoor use.
Electrical Wires, Electronics & Outlets Far Away From Water
Quite a few appliances are specifically built for outdoor areas, like gas and charcoal grills, for example. If you make us of any electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers, power tools and others – ensure that all plugs and outlets are not wet. Weatherproof electronics can help, in addition to GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.
Extension Cords are Only a Momentary Answer
An extension cord poses many potential risks, this includes:
The likelihood of a loose connection that sometimes can cause sparks and a fire.
The possibility of power fluctuations that may damage the appliance.
Greater susceptibility to water penetration that might cause electrocution.
The potential for cords overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an low-quality extension cord is paired with a high-power appliance.
When deciding on an extension cord for limited-time use, be sure that it’s the correct gauge for the appliance in question. The lower the gauge, the larger the cord size. For example, a simple extension cord for a lamp could have a 16-gauge wire where a heavy-duty cord for a air conditioner uses a 12-gauge wire.
The length of the cord is also a factor. The longer the cord, the more power is gone on the way, something known as voltage drop. Shorter extension cords are recommended for power tools and similar equipment.
Read the Operating Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Buy
It’s simple to guess that you know how to use a brand new appliance without consulting the manual, but reading the guidelines is important for a lot of reasons:
You should find out whether your house’s wiring is enough to power the appliance. You may have to install a circuit to prevent overloading your existing ones.
You learn more about features you might not otherwise have known about.
You learn if the appliance is intended for outdoor use or not.
You do not have the extreme stress that can come from trying to run a appliance without instructions!
Unplug Small Appliances if You Aren’t Using Them
You can limit unnecessary energy consumption by unplugging small appliances when you are not operating them. This is because small appliances often include LED signals, timers and other features standby times.
Unplug monitors, televisions, modems, printers, routers, video game systems, cellphone chargers and more to limit wasteful energy use. Just remember, it’s OK to keep DVRs and similar electronics plugged in to not miss their background functions.
For extra tips on how to use appliances safely, or to schedule a local appliance repair company, please contact Boulder Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can repair all popular household appliances!
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