Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside of your home often make life much less stressful, but if you use household appliances unsafely, they might create noticeable health risks. It is best to maintain your appliances and be sure they won’t turn into dangers by adhering to these helpful appliance safety recommendations from Ignite Miami Beach Appliance Repair.

The professional tips in this post help to prevent fires and injuries due to broken appliances. That being said, hazards can still happen. In the event a home appliance has problems or malfunctions and becomes a danger, reach out to a local appliance repair Miami Beach.

Install GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations in Your Home

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

This will prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit when any inconsistencies in power are detected.

If you don’t have GFCI outlets in wet rooms inside and around your house, now is the time to install them or call an electrician in Miami Beach. Once that is done, for further safety, heed the warnings of appliance manuals that indicate a home appliance is not designed for outdoor areas.

Cords, Outlets & Electronics Away From Water

A lot of appliances are specially designed for outdoor use, such as charcoal and gas grills, for example. If you have electrical appliances outdoors – including dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers and freezers, electric tools and others – monitor that all cords and outlets are dry. Weatherproof electronics will help with this, combined with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are a Temporary Option

Extension cords pose many risks, including:

The likelihood of loose connections that could create sparks and cause a fire.
The possibility of power interruptions that will ruin the appliance.
Increased susceptibility to moisture penetration that can result in electrocution.
The chance of wires overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an low-quality extension cord is paired with a high-power appliance.

When deciding on an extension cord for temporary use, make sure that it is the correct gauge for the electrical appliance in question. The smaller the gauge, the larger the cord size. For instance, a extension cord for a radio might have a 16-gauge cord while a bigger cord for a AC unit uses a 12-gauge wire.

The length is also crucial. The longer the cord is, the more electricity is lost on the way, a phenomenon known as voltage drop. Shorter cords are advised for electric tools and similar equipment.

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

It is easy to assume that you know how to operate your brand new washing machine or dishwasher without consulting the manual, but consulting the guidelines is necessary for several reasons:

You should find out whether your house’s wiring is sufficient to power the new appliance. You may need to install a circuit to prevent overloading your existing ones.

You learn more about advanced features you might not otherwise known.
You understand if the appliance is OK for outdoor locations or not.

You avoid the frustration that can come from trying to run a new appliance with no instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances in Your Home When Not in Use

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

Unplug TVs, computer monitors, routers, game consoles, cellphone chargers and more to reduce unnecessary energy consumption. But remember, it’s alright to keep DVRs and similar electronics plugged in to prevent missing out on their automatic background functions.

For more tips on ways to use home appliances safely, or to hire a local appliance repair service, please contact Ignite Miami Beach Appliance Repair. We can fix all name brand home appliances!

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