Tag Archives: Home Safety

How to Avoid Kitchen Fires

Naturally you want to avoid kitchen fires, but the statistics prove that the risk is real. The American Red Cross says that cooking has been the No. 1 cause of residential fires every yearKitchen Fire for decades. It’s important that you understand the risk of kitchen-related fires and be prepared in the event of an emergency. The good news is that you can prevent kitchen fires by observing a few simple, common-sense practices.

Facts about Kitchen and Cooking-Related Fires

The U.S. Fire Administration reports that there were 182,000 cooking fires in the United States in 2012, with 145 deaths, 4,425 significant injuries, and more than $555 million in property damage as a result.* Kitchen fires happen when people fail to follow basic safety practices or are not prepared to deal with a cooking emergency. Once a fire breaks out in your home, you have two minutes or less to evacuate.

Be Prepared for Kitchen Emergencies

Experts agree that the best way to be prepared for a kitchen fire is to keep a fully charged fire extinguisher within easy reach at all times and know how to use it. Local fire departments and the Red Cross frequently offer free fire safety courses. Involve your children in learning fire safety practices as soon as they are old enough. Teach them about fire and burn risks as toddlers, and demonstrate “stop, drop and roll” as soon as they can walk. Know what to do if a kitchen fire does break out and understand the difference between grease fires and other types of fires. Never put water on a grease fire. Instead, turn off the burner and place a lid on the pot if you can safely do so. Baking soda is also an effective means of extinguishing grease fires. Have a fire escape plan for your family and practice it often. If in doubt, get out of the house and call 911.

Use Safe Cooking Techniques

The Red Cross is adamant that the best way to avoid cooking fires is to never leave any broiling, grilling or frying food unattended. If you must leave the kitchen, even for a second, turn it off. For other foods left unattended while cooking, check on them regularly using a timer to remind you. Don’t wear loose clothing, especially big sleeves, such as those on a bathrobe. Teach your kids that the stove is always a kid-free zone. Set up a “no-go zone” of at least 3 feet and enforce it diligently. Keep your stove and range hood free of grease buildup and keep combustibles (curtains, potholders, towels, wooden items, papers/paper bags and fake plants) away from the range and anything else that produces heat, such as a toaster. Keeping pot handles turned inward and out of reach will help prevent fires as well as burns. Finally, make sure your appliances are in good working order and properly plugged into a grounded outlet.

Keeping your range and vent hood well maintained is an important part of kitchen safety. In the Salt Lake City area, Complete Appliance Repair specializes in maintaining your appliances, ensuring they are safe and reliable. Contact them today to schedule a preventive maintenance service call for your stove. Ask your technician for additional tips and tricks to help you avoid kitchen fires.

How to Clean Refrigerator Water and Ice Dispensers

You already know that a clean refrigerator is important to keep your family healthy, but you may be at a loss as to how to clean the icemaker and water dispenser. A recent study by the public health organization NSF identified this as one of the most contaminated items in the Ice Makerkitchen. Besides making you sick, a contaminated or dirty icemaker can result in several unpleasant consequences. Read on for some helpful tips for cleaning this appliance.

Why Your Icemaker Needs to be Cleaned

Dirty ice can be milky, cloudy or emit a foul odor. It may begin to clump together and cause your beverages to have a bad flavor. In addition to these warning signs, you may notice that the icemaker is producing ice more slowly or that the flow of water through the door is impeded or restricted. The most common ice dispenser problems are mold and yeast growth. These contaminants can exacerbate allergies and cause a variety of health problems ranging from digestive to respiratory ills.

How to Clean Your Icemaker

Always follow manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning your refrigerator, but if those aren’t available, follow these basic procedures. Turn the ice maker off (or unplug the refrigerator), disconnect the water line, then remove the ice bin and discard the ice. Pour three to four cups of white vinegar (never use bleach to clean your refrigerator or its components!) into the water line and allow it to stand for at least 10 minutes. Reconnect the water line and allow the vinegar to pass into the ice maker and water dispenser. Clean the water spout with a squirt bottle containing white vinegar, using a cotton swab to clean inside and outside the spout. Push the water dispenser lever and allow the vinegar to flow out through the door. Keep the lever depressed, allowing water to flow through and rinse away all traces of vinegar. Wipe all components dry and replace the ice bin. Finally, turn the ice maker back on.

Keeping Water and Ice Dispensers Clean

Your manufacturer likely recommends a regular cleaning schedule, but depending on how much you use the ice maker and water dispenser, experts recommend a full cleaning as described above at least twice each year. Unfiltered water is frequently responsible for depositing contaminants in the dispenser, so ensure that your refrigerator’s water filter is changed and maintained on schedule. The water spout and the area where ice comes out the door should be cleaned with a white vinegar solution once a week. Experts also recommend having your refrigerator’s condenser cleaned annually.

Complete Appliance Repair, serving the Salt Lake City area, offers a full range of refrigerator maintenance and repair services. To extend the life of your appliance and to keep it safe and sanitary, schedule an annual refrigerator maintenance service. An experienced technician will clean the condenser and other hard-to-reach areas, and inspect your refrigerator’s components for wear or damage. Every appliance is different and care must be taken not to cause damage or void the manufacturer’s warranty. Let Complete Appliance show you the best way to clean refrigerator parts, including your ice and water dispenser.