A typical appliance repair emergency might be a leak or smoke or even flames coming from the appliance.
If an appliance emergency occurs, unplug the appliance right away and call Premiere Chicago Appliance Repair for local appliance repair in Chicago. If there is an electrical fire resulting from one of the large or small appliances inside of your home, we recommend calling the fire department before you try to extinguish the fire by yourself.
An electrical fire from an appliance can be very scary and extremely dangerous, but there are a few steps to be prepared in the event of an emergency. If an appliance goes up in flames, it’s very important not to panic. Follow these simple guidelines to keep your house safe from electrical appliance fires.
Homeowners can prevent electrical fires before they start by following a couple of basic guidelines for appliance safety. Do not plug in a lot of devices into a single outlet—the wiring might become overloaded and then spark a fire, especially if there is clutter like paper or clothes nearby the electrical outlet.
It can be easy to forget about the apparent dangers of larger household appliances because they stay plugged in all of the time, but they still present as much chance for a fire hazard as smaller devices like toasters and heaters. Large appliances like a washing machine or dishwasher shouldn’t be left running overnight or while you’re away from home, and don’t keep a freezer or refrigerator in line of direct sunlight, to prevent overworking their cooling systems inside.
Examine all outlets regularly for excessive heat, burns, and buzzing or crackling noises that could indicate electrical arcing. Be sure you have at least one smoke detector on every floor of your home, and test the smoke detectors quarterly to keep them in good working condition.
If there is an appliance repair emergency involving an electrical fire, it can be tempting to douse the fire with water, however water should never be used on an electrical fire.
Water can conduct electricity, and pouring water on or near a power source might cause a harmful electrical shock. It might even make the fire worse. Water could conduct the electricity to other areas of the room, running the risk of igniting more flammable items in the room.
The immediate thing you want to do is unplug the electric appliance from the power outlet and call the local fire department. Even if you think you are able to handle the fire on your own, it’s a good idea to have help if the fire does get out of hand.
For minor fires, you could be able to pour on baking soda to extinguish the flames. Covering the fuming or burning area with a layer of baking soda can block oxygen flow to the flames with very little risk of electrocution. Baking soda also includes sodium bicarbonate, which is the same substance in regulation fire extinguishers. You might be able to put out a smaller fire using a heavy blanket as well, but only when the flames are small enough not to catch the blanket on fire as well.
For large electrical appliance fires, you need a Type C fire extinguisher. You should always be sure you have at least one Type C extinguisher in your home. Extinguishers should also be inspected regularly to be sure they are not expired. If you have a operational fire extinguisher in the home, just pull the pin near the top, aim the nozzle at the source of the fire, and squeeze the handle. If the flames get too big to fight alone or you think the fire could block an exit, you should leave the home immediately, close the door , and wait for assistance from the fire department.
For the smaller appliance fires, call Premiere Chicago Appliance Repair once the fire is under control and we can identify the reason for the fire and repair the electrical appliance and restore it to its original condition.
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