An appliance repair emergency might be a leak or smoke or even flames coming from the home appliance.
In the event of an appliance emergency in your home, unplug the appliance right away and call Perry Appliance Repair for local appliance repair in Ogden. If there’s an electrical fire resulting from one of the large or small appliances in your home, we advise calling the local fire department before you attempt to put out the fire yourself.
An electrical fire from an appliance is scary and extremely dangerous, but there are a couple of steps to be prepared in case of an emergency. If one of your appliances is in flames, it is very important not to panic and remain calm. Follow these easy guidelines to help keep your house safe from electrical appliance fires.
HOW TO PREVENT ELECTRICAL FIRES
Homeowners are able to stop electrical fires before they start by following a few basic guidelines for appliance safety. Be sure not to plug too many electrical devices into one electrical outlet—the wiring might become overloaded and then spark a fire, especially if there is clutter like paper or clothes near the electrical outlet.
Sometimes we forget about the dangers of larger residential appliances because they remain plugged in all the time, but they present as much chance for a fire hazard as smaller appliances like toasters and 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 freezer or refrigerator in line of direct sunlight, to prevent possibly overworking their cooling systems inside.
Inspect all of the outlets on a regular basis for excessive heat, signs of burns, and crackling or buzzing sounds that might point to electrical arcing. Make sure you store at least one smoke detector on every story of your home, and test them quarterly to keep them in good working condition.
WHAT TO NOT 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 should never be used to fight an electrical appliance fire.
Water conducts electricity, and pouring water on a power source can cause a dangerous electrical shock. It could even make the fire stronger. Water could conduct electricity to other parts of the room, increasing the risk of igniting more flammable items nearby.
HOW TO PUT OUT AN ELECTRICAL FIRE
The first step you need to do is to unplug the electric appliance from the power outlet and call your local fire department. Even if you think you can handle the fire by yourself, it’s important to have backup if the fire does get out of hand.
For little fires, you could be able to pour on baking soda to smother the fire. Covering the smoking or burning spot with baking soda will sometimes block oxygen flow to the flames with minimal risk of electrocution. Baking soda also contains sodium bicarbonate, which is the same substance used in standard fire extinguishers. You also could be able to smother a smaller fire with a heavy blanket, but only when the flames are small enough not to catch the heavy blanket on fire as well.
For big electrical appliance fires, you need a Type C fire extinguisher. You should be sure you own at least one Type C or multi-use fire extinguisher in your house. Extinguishers should also be checked regularly to ensure they have not expired. If there is a operational fire extinguisher in the home, just pull the pin near the top, point the hose at the fire, and press the handle. If the fire gets too dangerous to fight alone or you think the fire might block an exit, you should leave the home immediately, shut the door , and then wait for help from the fire department.
For the smaller appliance fires, call Perry Appliance Repair once the fire is under control and we can diagnose the reason for the fire and repair the appliance and restore it to its original condition.
OTHER RESOURCES:
Appliance Repair Cost
Appliance Repair Tips
Appliance Safety
Repair or Replace Appliances
Refrigerator Parts