The appliances in your house often make your life less stressful, but if you use appliances unsafely, they could produce noticeable risks. You will want to care for appliances and be sure they don’t turn into dangers by adhering to these helpful home appliance safety suggestions from North Las Vegas Appliance Repair.
The tips in this article help to prevent fires and injuries related to household appliances. However, hazards could still happen. If an appliance has issues or starts to malfunction and becomes dangerous, reach out to a local appliance repair North Las Vegas.
Install GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations in Your Home
Laundry rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages are susceptible to moisture or dripping water. As you are well aware, electricity and water don’t mix, so electrical cords and wires should be plugged into GFCI outlets.
This type of outlet can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit if any imbalances in electricity occur.
If you don’t have GFCI outlets installed in damp areas around your house, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in North Las Vegas. After that, for further safety measures, follow the warnings of manufacturer appliance manuals that indicate they are not designed for outdoor use.
Cords, Outlets & Electronics Far Away From Water
A lot of home appliances are specially designed for the outdoors, such as gas and charcoal grills, for example. If you make us of any electrical appliances outside – including refrigerators, dishwashers, ice makers and freezers, electric tools and more – monitor that all plugs and outlets are 100% dry. Weatherproof electronics help with this, as do GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.
Extension Cords are Only a Temporary Solution
Extension cords pose many evident risks, including:
The likelihood of a loose connection that might cause sparks and start a fire.
The possibility of power fluctuations that may break the appliance.
Greater vulnerability to moisture penetration that might lead to electrocution.
The probability of cords overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is used for a high-power appliance.
When determining an extension cord for temporary use, make sure it’s the correct gauge for the electrical equipment in question. The smaller the gauge, the bigger the wire size. For instance, a household extension cord for a lamp will have a 16-gauge cord while a larger cord for a AC unit uses a 12-gauge wire.
The length is also crucial. The longer the cord is, the more power is lost on the way, also called voltage drop. Shorter extension cords are good for electric tools and similar equipment.
Be Sure to Read the Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Purchase
It is easy to guess that you know how to use your brand new dishwasher or washing machine without reading the manual, but consulting the instructions is necessary for many reasons:
You should find out whether your house’s electrical wiring is sufficient to support the appliance. You may have to install a new circuit to prevent overloading any existing ones.
You learn about advanced features you would not have otherwise known.
You learn if the new appliance is intended for outdoor locations or not.
You do not have the extreme stress that can come from attempting to run a home appliance without instructions!
Unplug Small Appliances When Not Being Used
You can reduce unnecessary energy use by unplugging them when not in use. This is because small appliances often include LED indicators, timers and other energy-draining features while in standby times.
Unplug monitors, TVs, modems, printers, routers, game systems, cellphone chargers and more to cut back on wasteful energy consumption. But remember, it’s OK to keep DVRs and similar items plugged in to not miss their background functions.
For even more tips on ways to use home appliances safely, or to hire a local appliance repair service, please contact North Las Vegas Appliance Repair. Our technicians can fix all major household appliances!
OTHER RESOURCES:
Appliance Repair Cost
DIY Appliance Repair Tips
Repair or Replace Appliances
Refrigerator Parts
Copyright ©2024 North Las Vegas Appliance Repair