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 then call Guthrie Appliance Repair for local appliance repair. If there is an electrical fire from one of the appliances in your home, we recommend calling the local fire department even before attempting to put out the fire on your own.

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

HOW TO PREVENT ELECTRICAL FIRES

Homeowners are able to prevent electrical fires from ever starting by following a few basic rules of appliance safety. Do not plug a lot of electrical devices into a single electrical outlet—the wiring might get overloaded and spark a fire, especially when there’s debris like paper or clothes nearby the electrical outlet.

It can be easy to forget about the dangers of larger residential appliances because they remain plugged in all the time, but they still present as much of a fire hazard as small devices like kitchen toasters and space heaters. Larger appliances like a dishwasher or washing machine should not be left running overnight or any time you are not at home, and try not to keep a freezer or refrigerator in line of direct sunlight, in order to prevent possibly overworking the cooling systems inside.

Check all of the outlets on a regular basis for excessive heat, signs of burns, and buzzing or crackling sounds that could point to electrical arcing. Make sure you store at least one smoke detector on each floor of your house, and test them quarterly to keep them in working order.

WHAT TO NOT DO

If there is an appliance repair emergency involving an electrical fire, it could be tempting to douse the fire with water, but water shouldn’t be used on an electrical fire.

Water conducts electricity, and pouring water on a power source can give a severe electrical shock. It could even make the fire stronger. Water could conduct the electricity to other locations of the room, increasing the risk of igniting more flammable items nearby.

HOW TO PUT OUT AN ELECTRICAL FIRE

The first step you want to do is unplug the electric appliance from the power outlet and call the local fire department. Even if you think you can put out the fire by yourself, it is important to have help if the flames do get out of control.

For small fires, you may be able to use baking soda to smother the flames. Covering the fuming or burning area with a layer of baking soda can prevent oxygen flow to the flames with little risk of electrocution. Baking soda includes sodium bicarbonate, which is the same chemical used in regulation fire extinguishers. You also may be able to put out a small fire with a heavy blanket, but only when the flames are small enough not to catch the heavy blanket on fire too.

For big electrical appliance fires, use a Type C fire extinguisher. You should always be sure you have at least one Type C or multi-use extinguisher in your house. Extinguishers need to be inspected regularly to make sure they haven’t expired. If there’s a operational extinguisher in the home, release the pin at the top, aim the hose at the flames, and squeeze the handle. If the fire gets too dangerous to fight by yourself or you think the fire might block an exit, you should leave the house right away, shut the door behind you, and then wait for assistance from the fire department.

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

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