When the weather is colder, everyone gathers around, and time is spent making memories. Unfortunately, the number of accidents increase during the winter since more time is spent at home. The good news is that you can prevent such accidents by implementing the below appliance safety tips.
Call for an Inspection
Before the weather gets too cold, you need to have your appliances inspected by a professional technician. Have your dryer vent cleaned if it has been more than a year, so the lint does not build up in the vent, combust, and cause a fire. Dryer fires are more prevalent during winter months because more laundry is done and more layers of clothes are worn to keep warm. You may also be doing more cooking, so it’s a good idea to have your stove and oven checked to ensure they are working properly. A professional technician can make sure that there are no gas leaks in your kitchen appliances.
Do Not Use Your Oven to Heat Your Home
Your oven is not designed for space heating, so do not use it to heat your home. Gas ovens can put you and your family at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. Using an electric oven to heat your home is also not a good idea because leaving it on for several hours to achieve a comfortable room temperature can cause it to overheat and catch fire. Not to mention, using an oven as a heater will put a significant amount of wear and tear on it, thus decreasing its lifespan. To heat your home, use your home’s HVAC system.
Shut Off Kitchen Appliances Correctly
Even though life can get hectic when you’re entertaining family and friends, make sure that you shut off your kitchen appliances correctly. Failure to do so can result in dangerous accidents. For example, if you fail to turn off your gas stove correctly, you are at high risk for carbon monoxide poisoning.
Turn Off Appliances When You’re Not Home or When You’re Asleep
Do not keep your appliances running if you’re asleep or away from home. You must always supervise your appliances when they’re on. If anything goes wrong, you can act quickly before an accident or fire occurs.
Following the above tips will ensure you and your family remain safe this winter. If you reside in the greater Porterville, CA area, contact Sierra Appliance Services to have your appliances inspected and maintained.
