Emergency Appliance Repair

An appliance repair emergency could be a leak or smoke or even flames coming from the home appliance.

If an appliance emergency arises in your home, unplug the appliance immediately and then call Like-New Appliance Repair for local appliance repair in Cincinnati. If there is an electrical fire resulting from one of the appliances inside of your home, we advise calling the local fire department before you attempt to eliminate 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 appliance is in flames, it is important not to panic and to remain calm. Follow these simple guidelines below to help keep your house safe from electrical fires.

PREVENTING ELECTRICAL FIRES

Homeowners can stop electrical fires before they start by following some simple rules of appliance safety. Do not plug in more than two electrical devices into one electrical outlet—the wiring might get overloaded and then spark a fire, especially if there is clutter like paper or clothes near the outlet.

Sometimes we forget about the apparent dangers of large residential appliances because they remain plugged in all of the time, but they still present as much chance for a fire hazard as small electrical devices like kitchen toasters and heaters. Larger appliances like a washing machine or dishwasher should not be left running overnight or while you are not at home, and do not place a refrigerator or freezer in direct sunlight, in order to prevent possibly overworking the cooling systems.

Examine all outlets regularly for excessive heat, signs of burns, and crackling or buzzing noises that could indicate electrical arcing. Make sure you store at least one smoke detector on each floor of your house, and test the smoke detectors regularly to keep them in working condition.

WHAT NOT TO DO

If there’s an appliance repair emergency such as an electrical fire, it could be tempting to put out the flames with water, however water shouldn’t be used to douse an electrical fire.

Water will conduct electricity, and pouring water on a power source could cause a dangerous electrical shock. It might even make the fire worse. Water can conduct electricity to additional areas of the room, increasing the risk of igniting more flammable objects in the room.

HOW TO PUT OUT AN ELECTRICAL FIRE

The first step you should do is to unplug the device from the power source and call your fire department. Even if you think you can put out the fire by yourself, it is a good idea to have help if the fire does get out of control.

For little fires, you might be able to pour on baking soda to extinguish the fire. Covering the smoking or burning area with some baking soda can block oxygen flow to the fire with minimal risk of electrocution. Baking soda also includes sodium bicarbonate, which is the same chemical used in regulation fire extinguishers. You also could be able to smother a small fire using a heavy blanket, but only if the flames are small enough not to catch the blanket on fire.

For large electrical fires, use a Type C fire extinguisher. You should make sure you own at least one Type C or multi-use fire extinguisher in your house. Extinguishers need to be inspected often to ensure they have not expired. If there’s a operational extinguisher in the home, just release the pin near the top, aim the nozzle at the flames, and press the handle. If the fire gets too dangerous to put out alone or you think the fire may block an exit, you should leave the home as fast as possible, close the door behind you, and then wait for help from the local fire department.

For the small appliance fires, call Like-New Appliance Repair once the fire is under control and we can identify the cause of the fire and repair the appliance and restore it to its original condition.

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Appliance Repair Cost
Appliance Repair Tips
Appliance Safety
Repair or Replace Appliances
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