Home Appliance Safety Tips
The main job of home appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, refrigerators, stoves, and garbage disposals is to make their lives convenient and less stressful. They are all around our home, and often we undermine the threat they pose to the safety of our home and family. If you don't pay attention to the safe usage of appliances, they can pose significant risks.
Following these safety tips while using home appliances can help in preventing accidents:
Read manufacturer's instructions
Whenever you buy a new appliance, it is easy to give in to using it without going through the manual that comes with it. While you may be confident of knowing how to use that appliance, reading the manufacturer's instructions is essential for more reasons than one. The first thing to learn is whether the home's wiring is compatible with the appliance or not. Putting it in an old or incompatible circuit can cause overloading. There might be some features in the machines that you will only become aware of after reading the manual. Lastly, you will also learn about indoor and outdoor spaces where you can safely use them.
Unplug appliance when not in use
Unplugging small household appliances like hairdryers, shavers, toasters, printers, chargers, coffee machines, toasters, and microwaves is essential not only to ensure safety but also to reduce unnecessary energy consumption.
Routine inspection and maintenance
Keeping both the appliances and electrical system in good shape is essential to ensure all-round safety. This is especially true of appliances that are hardwired. Check the home wiring and power cords regularly for any damage or malfunction. Have those worn out wires repaired or replaced at the earliest opportunity. Schedule routine maintenance of the home appliances to ensure they operate efficiently and are safe to use. Fix any malfunctioning appliance without delay. It is also essential to clean all these household appliances to keep them free of buildup, dust, and debris. Inspect all vent pipes and ducts for dirt or blockages. Please have them inspected and cleaned by a pro regularly.
Appliance location
Every appliance in the house should have an appropriate place at a safe distance from the wet areas of the home. The back porch is no place for a refrigerator! Keep or store flammable materials like solvents, gasoline, newspaper, clothing, and curtains away from electric appliances.
Power supply
Avoid plugging too many appliances in a single electrical outlet. Electrical appliances should be plugged into grounded sockets. Avoid using extension cords as a permanent solution to plug large appliances as they pose several risks.
Some other helpful tips include:
Stay close to an appliance when it is running or in use. For example, don't turn on the dryer as you're leaving your home.
Don't touch an electrical appliance while standing on a damp floor, or with wet hands.
Never clean, repair, or service electric appliances when they are connected to a power source.
Use all appliances only for the purpose they are manufactured. We may chuckle at the college kid who grills his cheese sandwich with an iron, but please--don't.
Install smoke detectors and fire alarms in the home.
Remember, the points mentioned above will make your home safer and increase the lives of appliances. Anytime an appliance needs service, breaks or malfunctions, it is best to call an appliance repair company professional to fix it as soon as possible. They will help to install and repair an appliance and ensure that you know how to use and care for them efficiently.
Freedom Appliance of Tampa Bay has 13 years of experience in professional repair and installation of all laundry and kitchen appliances and dryer duct cleaning. Call 813-302-7672 today!