Your home should be a safe environment for you, your family members, and guests. But, did you know that your appliances can become hazards in the home? Here we highlight a few of the potential hazards from your home appliances. And give you 4 simple solutions to prevent appliance safety hazards in the home and keep you and your family safe.

What Are Some of the Home Appliance Safety Hazards:

• Fire

Fire hazards come from a number of sources. Lint in dryers could become a fire hazard if allowed to accumulate in the dryer vents and hoses. If the coils on your refrigerator become dirty, they could lead to a compressor failure, and this can increase the risk for fire. Faulty appliance wiring is also a concern.

• Gas Leaks

Gas leaks can occur because of breaks or loose seals in the pipes leading to appliances such as your stoves or dryers. And with gas leaks come the increased risks of explosions and fires.

• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide is emitted from several household appliances including dryers, water heaters and generators. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer , taking the lives of more people across the US than any other poison. You will never know the level of carbon monoxide in your home unless you continuously test for it.

Solutions to Prevent Appliance Safety Hazards

Follow Manufacturers Guides
All appliances come with manuals outlining best practices for use. So, if they tell you to keep the appliance a certain number of feet away from the wall, it is for your safety. Follow these and all other rules to prevent malfunctioning appliances and increase your security.

Routine Appliance Inspections and Maintenance
Have your appliances routinely inspected by a qualified professional. This can mitigate any future hazards if they identify the potential problems from early. And in carrying out your own inspections, make sure you keep flammables away from appliances that can become fire hazards. This could be liquids, rags, papers etc.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Installing carbon monoxide detectors are especially important as our homes are normally kept air tight to keep cool or warm depending on the season. You need to be able to identify this odorless gas before it is too late.

Smoke Detectors, Gas Leak Detectors, and Fire Alarms
Other detectors you should ensure to keep in your home and have them regularly inspected are your smoke detectors and gas leak detectors. Ensure that you have an adequate fire alarm system and if at all possible have it connected to a central monitoring station for extra peace of mind.

Just implementing these simple solutions can lessen the risks posed in the home by your appliances. If you would like to find out more about the benefits of these systems or how they can be implemented in your home, give us a call at ATP . We would be more than happy to help.

ATP’s 4 Solutions to Prevent Appliance Safety Hazards in the Home