The 3 Greatest Dangers of Home Appliances and How to Avoid Them

Modern home appliances are built to standards of safety these days that rival those of decades past. A 1950s refrigerator was, by today’s standards, a serious health hazard due to the gases emitted. While our modern white goods are quite safe, there are still some dangers that homeowners should be aware of whether during use or if attempting repairs:

1. Microwave Ovens

The small but mighty microwave is a real shocker – quite literally. During use, they store thousands of volts of electricity, but what many homeowners may not consider is that even after they’ve warmed up last night’s pizza they’re still able to pack a punch. Although the appliance may appear to be idle, the capacitor is storing voltage equivalent to about 30 electrical outlets inside, all ready to discharge if care and caution are not exercised during repairs.

The best advice is simply to never attempt repairs on a microwave oven yourself. Leave the job to a professional if you must repair your microwave oven.

2. Clothes Dryers

We love our clothes dryers for the convenience they bring as much as the comfort of throwing on a toasty pair of pyjamas fresh from the tumbler, but they pose a real risk for Australians. One of the most common causes for callouts to the NSW Fire Brigade is for clothes dryers. They urge homeowners to pay special attention to the lint trap of the clothes dryer.

Think about it: you probably remove lint from your own body (e.g. the belly button) every time you shower, so why wouldn’t you remove lint from your clothes dryer after every use? Get in the habit of cleaning it out (tip: leave a small rubbish bin adjacent to the dryer for easy disposal) after every single use since accumulated lint can very easily lead to a fire.

Another danger that should be avoided if possible is the risk of fire (again) from the dryer’s venting system and vent cap area. Arrange to have the vent cap located outside of the home at least once per year by a qualified professional.

3. Lawnmowers

Surely every homeowner understands that lawnmowers aren’t a child’s toy, but manufacturers for decades have been producing models with plenty of safety features and the blade section is so well shielded that realistically, contact with the blades is not likely to happen if used with proper care.

Instead, the real danger that homeowners may face from lawnmowers is the force and velocity of objects that can be catapulted from the lawnmower. Lawnmower blades are designed to mow lawn, not chop through rocks, plastic, or metal objects. Anything that gets lodged inside of the blade compartment and shot out will come out at forces up to 160 km/h, which can be fatal or at least lead to serious injury.

Homeowners should ensure that the lawnmower is always used safely and responsibly. Children and pets should not be in the immediate vicinity of the lawnmower whilst in operation. Also, look to have the blades replaced every year or so. As the saying goes, a sharp blade is a safe blade.

Domestic Appliance Repair

If your home appliances are in need of repair, don’t put your life on the line. Contact Domestic Appliance Repair and our qualified technicians will bring your white goods like dishwashers, washing machines, ovens and range hoods back to life safely and at competitive rates.

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