A typical appliance repair emergency might be a leak or smoke or even flames coming from the appliance.
In the event of an appliance emergency, unplug the appliance right away and call ARRC Redlands Appliance Repair for local appliance repair in Redlands. If there’s an electrical fire from one of the large or small appliances inside your home, we advise calling the local fire department before you try to extinguish the fire on your own.
An electrical fire from an appliance is very scary and extremely dangerous, but there are a couple of steps to be prepared in the event of an emergency. If an electrical appliance goes up in flames, it’s important not to panic. Follow these easy guidelines below to keep your home safe from electrical appliance fires.
You are able to prevent electrical fires before they start by following a couple of basic rules of appliance safety. Don’t plug in a lot of electrical devices into one electrical outlet—the wiring can become overloaded and then spark a fire, especially if there’s debris like clothes or paper close to the electrical outlet.
It is possible to forget about the apparent dangers of larger residential appliances since they remain plugged in all of the time, but they can present as much chance for a fire hazard as smaller appliances like kitchen toasters and space heaters. Large appliances like a dishwasher or washing machine should not be left running overnight or while you’re not at home, and don’t keep a refrigerator or freezer in line of direct sunlight, to prevent possibly overworking the cooling systems inside.
Examine all outlets regularly for excessive heat, signs of burns, and buzzing or crackling sounds that might indicate electrical arcing. Be sure you have at least one smoke detector on every story of your home, and test the smoke detectors often to keep them in working order.
If there is an appliance repair emergency involving an electrical fire, it might be tempting to put out the fire with water, however water should never be used to fight an electrical appliance fire.
Water can conduct electricity, and dumping water on or near a power source might give a dangerous electrical shock. It might even make the fire stronger. Water might conduct electricity to additional areas of the room, running the chance of igniting more flammable objects in the area.
The first step you should do is unplug the appliance from the power source and call the local fire department. Even if you think you are able to handle the fire yourself, it is a good idea to have backup if the flames do get out of control.
For small fires, you might be able to pour on baking soda to extinguish the fire. Covering the smoldering or burning spot with a layer of baking soda will sometimes prohibit oxygen flow to the flames with minimal chance of electrocution. Baking soda includes sodium bicarbonate, which is the same substance used in regulation fire extinguishers. You could be able to extinguish a smaller fire using a heavy blanket as well, but only if the flames are small enough not to catch the heavy blanket on fire as well.
For big electrical fires, you need a Type C fire extinguisher. You should be sure you have at least one Type C fire extinguisher in your house. Extinguishers should also be inspected consistently to ensure they aren’t expired. If there is a operational extinguisher in the home, pull the pin at the top, point the nozzle at the source of the fire, and squeeze the handle. If the fire gets too big to put out by yourself or you are concerned the fire might block an exit, you should leave the home right away, close the door , and wait for assistance from the local fire department.
For the smaller appliance fires, call ARRC Redlands Appliance Repair once the fire is under control and we can diagnose the cause of the fire and repair the electrical appliance and restore it to working order.
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