Emergency Appliance Repair

An appliance repair emergency could 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 Hayes Appliance Repair for local appliance repair in CITY. If there’s an electrical fire from one of the large or small appliances in your home, we suggest calling the town fire department before you try to eliminate the fire yourself.

An electrical fire from an appliance is very scary and extremely dangerous, but there are a couple of ways to be prepared in case of an emergency. If one of your appliances is in flames, it is important not to panic and to remain calm. Follow our easy guidelines below to keep your house safe from electrical fires.

PREVENTING ELECTRICAL FIRES

You are able to prevent electrical fires from ever starting by following a couple of basic guidelines for appliance safety. Be sure not to plug more than two electrical devices into one outlet—the wiring can become overloaded and then spark a fire, especially when there is clutter like clothes or paper close to the electrical outlet.

It is possible to forget about the apparent dangers of large household appliances because they remain plugged in all the time, but they still present as much chance for a fire hazard as small appliances like kitchen toasters and space heaters. Larger appliances like a washing machine or dishwasher shouldn’t be left to run overnight or while you’re not at home, and don’t keep a freezer or refrigerator in line of direct sunlight, to prevent overworking the cooling systems inside.

Check all outlets on a regular basis for excessive heat, signs of burns, and crackling or buzzing sounds that might point to electrical arcing. Be sure you have at least one smoke detector on each story of your home, and test them regularly to keep them in working condition.

WHAT NOT TO DO

If there is an appliance repair emergency involving an electrical fire, it can be tempting to put out the flames with water, but water should not be used on an electrical appliance fire.

Water will conduct electricity, and pouring water on a power source can cause a harmful electrical shock. It could even make the fire stronger. Water can conduct electricity to other locations of the room, increasing the chance of igniting other flammable objects nearby.

HOW TO PUT OUT AN ELECTRICAL FIRE

The immediate step you need to do is to unplug the electric appliance from the power outlet and call the local fire department. Even if you think you can handle the fire on your own, it’s a good idea to have backup if the fire does get out of hand.

For small fires, you could be able to use baking soda to extinguish the fire. Covering the fuming or burning area with some baking soda will sometimes prohibit oxygen flow to the flames with minimal risk of electrocution. Baking soda includes sodium bicarbonate, which is the same chemical used in standard fire extinguishers. You might be able to put out a small fire with a heavy blanket, but only if the fire is small enough not to catch the blanket on fire as well.

For big electrical appliance fires, you need a Type C fire extinguisher. You should always make sure you own at least one Type C extinguisher in your house. Extinguishers need to be checked regularly to ensure they aren’t expired. If there is a working fire extinguisher in the home, just pull the pin near the top, aim the hose at the source of the fire, and squeeze the handle. If the fire gets too big to fight alone or you think the fire could block an exit, leave the home immediately, close the door , and then wait for help from the fire department.

For the small appliance fires, call Hayes Appliance Repair once the flames are extinguished and we will diagnose the cause of the fire and repair the electrical appliance and restore it to working order.

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