The appliances in your house often make life much easier, but if you use appliances the wrong way, they could produce evident health risks. You should protect appliances and ensure that they will not turn into dangers by following these home appliance safety suggestions from S.O.S. Santa Barbara Appliance Repair.
The professional tips in this post can help prevent fires and injuries from kitchen appliances. Even still, hazards might still happen. In the event an appliance has problems or starts to malfunction and becomes dangerous, reach out to a local appliance repair Santa Barbara.
GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations in Your Home
Kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages can be susceptible to wetness or dripping water. Of course, electricity and moisture do not mix, that means electrical cords should be plugged into GFCI outlets.
This special type of outlet can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any imbalances in electricity arise.
If you don’t already have GFCI outlets installed in damp areas inside and around your home, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in Santa Barbara. Once that is done, for additional safety, you will want to heed the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that indicate an appliance is not for outdoor use.
Wires, Outlets & Electronics Far Away From Damp Areas
Quite a few appliances are built for outdoor use, such as gas and charcoal grills, for example. If you have electrical appliances outdoors – including refrigerators, dishwashers, freezers and ice makers, power tools and others – monitor that all outlets and plugs are dry. Weatherproof electronics will help, combined with GFCI outlets with water-tight gaskets.
Extension Cords are a Temporary Option
An extension cord poses several noticeable risks, this includes:
The likelihood of a loose connection that might create sparks and cause a fire.
The chance of power inconsistencies that can damage the appliance.
Increased susceptibility to water penetration that can cause electrocution.
The potential for wires overheating and turning into a fire hazard when an insufficient extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.
When deciding on an extension cord for short-term use, ensure it is the right gauge for the home appliance in question. The smaller the gauge, the larger the cord size. For example, a household extension cord for a garden tool could have a 16-gauge wire whereas a big cord for a AC unit needs a 12-gauge wire.
The length is also crucial. The longer the extension cord, the more power is used up on the way, a phenomenon referred to as voltage drop. Short cords are recommended for power tools and equipment.
Read the Operating Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Buy
It is easy to guess that you know how to operate your brand new appliance without consulting the manual, but consulting the instructions is necessary for several reasons:
You should find out whether your home’s wiring is enough to power the new appliance. You might need to install a better circuit to prevent overloading any current ones.
You learn more about complicated features you might not otherwise have known.
You discover if the new appliance is intended for outdoor use or not.
You do not have the extreme frustration that can come from trying to start a home appliance without instructions!
Unplug Small Appliances When Not in Use
You are able to stop unnecessary energy consumption by unplugging them when you are not using them. This is because small appliances often include LED signals, timers and other energy-consuming features standby mode.
Unplug monitors, televisions, modems, printers, routers, video game consoles, smart phone chargers and more to stop unnecessary energy consumption. But remember, it is a good idea to keep DVRs and similar devices plugged in to prevent missing out on their automatic background features.
For additional tips on ways to use home appliances safely, or to hire a professional appliance repair service, please contact S.O.S. Santa Barbara Appliance Repair. We can repair all major household appliances!
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