Appliance & Electronic Repair Safety Always wear gloves, be sure to wear safety boots, refrain from wearing loose clothing, remember to take off loose jewelry, tie long hair, wear safety goggles, use the correct tools and make sure they are in good condition, keep your work area well lit. The metal edges on the inside of the appliances are sharp. Even the smallest cuts can become infected. Wear safety gloves to protect your hands when disassembling an appliance for repair.
Using extension cords on a regular basis may mean that you don't have enough outlets to meet your needs. Have a qualified electrician who understands electrical safety regulations install additional outlets in rooms where you usually use extension cords. When buying a power cable, consider the electrical load it will withstand. A cable with a load of 16 AWG can withstand up to 1375 watts.
For heavier loads, use a 14 or 12 AWG cable. Using the right bulbs can prevent electrical problems, so check all lamps, accessories and appliances to ensure that you are using the correct power. If a lamp doesn't have any wattage listed, use bulbs that are 60 watts or less. For unmarked ceiling lamps, choose 25-watt bulbs.
If you don't have the right type of tool for repairing an appliance, you can consider having a service technician complete the repair instead of buying a tool that you'll use infrequently. The bottom line is “don't bite off more than you can chew when you try to repair appliances yourself.” It's always tempting to innovate and overcome obstacles when repairing appliances using the tool that's immediately available to you. If the circuit breakers in the house aren't clearly marked, it's best to program a Sears technician to diagnose and repair the appliance. Do not jeopardize your personal safety if you are not completely sure that the power is disconnected from an appliance before attempting to repair it yourself.
You may think that you don't need them, but you do need to wear safety glasses when you repair appliances. You may have already done several appliance repairs without wearing safety glasses, but not wearing eye protection poses an unnecessary safety risk. Sears technicians have developed some repair techniques that you can safely perform yourself on your own with a multimeter (with the device unplugged).
