An appliance repair emergency could be a leak or smoke or even flames coming from the household appliance.
If an appliance emergency arises, unplug the appliance right away and call Key Glendale Appliance Repair for local appliance repair in Glendale. If there’s an electrical fire happening with one of the large or small appliances inside of your home, we recommend calling the local fire department even before you try to put out the fire yourself.
An electrical fire can be very scary and extremely dangerous, but there are a few steps to be prepared in case of an emergency. If one of your appliances goes up in flames, it is very important not to panic. Follow these easy guidelines below to keep your home safe from electrical appliance fires.
HOW TO PREVENT ELECTRICAL FIRES
Homeowners can prevent electrical fires before they start by following a few simple guidelines for appliance safety in a home. Don’t plug in too many devices into a single electrical outlet—the wiring can get overloaded and then spark a fire, especially if there’s clutter like paper or clothes close to the outlet.
It can be easy to forget about the apparent dangers of larger appliances because they remain plugged in all of the time, but they still present as much of a fire hazard as small appliances like toasters and space heaters. Larger appliances like a dishwasher or washing machine should not be left running overnight or any time you are away from home, and try not to keep a refrigerator or freezer in line of direct sunlight, in order to prevent possibly overworking their cooling systems inside.
Inspect all of the outlets regularly for extreme heat, burn marks, and buzzing or crackling noises that might point to electrical arcing. Make sure you keep at least one smoke detector on each floor of your home, and test them quarterly to keep them in good working condition.
WHAT NOT TO DO
If there is an appliance repair emergency such as an electrical fire, it could be tempting to douse the flames with water, however water shouldn’t be used to fight an electrical appliance fire.
Water conducts electricity, and pouring water on or near a power source might cause a harmful electrical shock. It could even make the fire stronger. Water could conduct the electricity to other areas of the room, running the risk of igniting other flammable objects nearby.
HOW TO EXTINGUISH AN ELECTRICAL FIRE
The first thing you want to do is to unplug the electric device from the power source and call your fire department. Even if you think you can handle the fire on your own, it’s a good idea to have backup if the fire does get out of hand.
For minor fires, you might be able to use baking soda to smother the fire. Covering the fuming or burning spot with a layer of baking soda will sometimes prohibit oxygen flow to the fire with minimal risk of electrocution. Baking soda also includes sodium bicarbonate, which is the same substance used in regulation fire extinguishers. You might be able to smother a smaller fire with a heavy blanket as well, but only when the fire is small enough to not catch the blanket on fire as well.
For large electrical appliance fires, use a Type C fire extinguisher. You should always make sure you have at least one Type C or multi-use fire extinguisher in your home. Extinguishers need to be checked consistently to be sure they have not expired. If you have a operational fire extinguisher on hand, release the pin at the top, point the nozzle at the fire, and press the handle. If the fire gets too big to put out by yourself or you think the fire may block an exit, you should leave the home right away, close the door , and then wait for assistance from the fire department.
For the small appliance fires, call Key Glendale Appliance Repair once the fire is under control and we can diagnose the reason for the fire and repair the appliance and return it to working order.
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Appliance Repair Tips
Appliance Safety
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