A typical appliance repair emergency might be a leak or smoke or even a fire coming from the appliance.
In the event of an appliance emergency, unplug the appliance right away and then call Best Boca Raton Appliance Repair for local appliance repair in Boca Raton. If there is an electrical fire involving one of the large or small appliances inside your home, we suggest calling the town fire department before you attempt to put out the fire on your own.
An electrical fire can be scary and extremely dangerous, but there are a few steps to be prepared in case of an emergency. If an electrical appliance is in flames, it is very important not to panic and remain calm. Follow these easy guidelines to keep your home safe from electrical fires.
PREVENTING ELECTRICAL FIRES
You are able to stop electrical fires from ever starting by following a couple of basic guidelines for appliance safety. Do not plug in more than two devices into one outlet—the wiring might become overloaded and then spark a fire, especially if there is clutter like clothes or paper close to the electrical outlet.
It’s possible to forget about the apparent dangers of larger home appliances since they stay plugged in all the time, but they still present as much of a fire hazard as smaller electrical devices like kitchen toasters and space heaters. Larger appliances like a washing machine or dishwasher shouldn’t be left running overnight or any time you are not at home, and try not to place a refrigerator or freezer in direct sunlight, to prevent possibly overworking the cooling systems.
Examine all outlets on a regular basis for extreme heat, burns, and buzzing or crackling sounds that could indicate electrical arcing. Be sure you have at least one working smoke detector on every story of your house, and test them quarterly to keep them in working condition.
WHAT NOT TO DO
If there’s an appliance repair emergency such as an electrical fire, it can be tempting to put out the flames with water, however water should not be used on an electrical fire.
Water can conduct electricity, and pouring water on a power source might cause a severe electrical shock. It could even make the fire stronger. Water might conduct electricity to additional parts of the room, running the chance of igniting more flammable objects nearby.
HOW TO EXTINGUISH AN ELECTRICAL FIRE
The first step you need to do is unplug the electric device from the power outlet and call the fire department. Even if you might be able to put out the fire by yourself, it is important to have backup if the flames do get out of control.
For little fires, you may be able to pour on baking soda to douse the fire. Covering the fuming or burning area with a layer of baking soda will sometimes prevent oxygen flow to the fire with little chance of electrocution. Baking soda includes sodium bicarbonate, which is the same substance used in regulation fire extinguishers. You also could be able to extinguish a smaller fire using a heavy blanket as well, but only if the flames are small enough to not catch the heavy blanket on fire too.
For larger electrical fires, you need a Type C fire extinguisher. You should always be sure you have at least one Type C fire extinguisher in your home. Extinguishers need to be inspected often to ensure they are not expired. If there is a operational extinguisher on hand, just release the pin at the top, aim the nozzle at the source of the fire, and squeeze the handle. If the fire gets too dangerous to put out alone or you think the fire might block an exit, leave the home immediately, close the door behind you, and then wait for assistance from the local fire department.
For the smaller appliance fires, call Best Boca Raton Appliance Repair once the flames are extinguished and we can identify the cause of the fire and repair the appliance and return it to working order.
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