Caring for appliances

Press, 9 December 1976, Page 25

Caring for appliances

Electrical faults in home appliances are often due to broken or damaged flex leads, caused by misuse, such as trailing the flex across the edge of tables and rough surfaces, cares less coiling when not in use, and pinching under furniture or doors. Damage can be done when ironing by allowing the flex to come into contact with the hot iron. If a fuse has blown, it is due to a short circuit, Examine the flex for damaged insulation where it enters the plug. Some frayed pieces of flex may have got across the two terminals of the plug or connection. The correct way to prepare the ends of flexes for attachment under terminal screws is to form a loop large enough for the terminal screw to pass through. The screw will then, when

tightened, draw the flex towards the screw. Irons: If the iron will not heat, the element has probably developed an open circuit, caused by the michrome wire, which forms the element, breaking or burning through. When coiling the flex for storage, ensure that the iron is cold. Do not coil the flex around the iron, but rotate the iron, feeding the flex as if on a drum, and rest the iron on a piece of paper or cloth to preserve the highlypolished sole. Radiators: The radiant efficiency of a reflectortype fire depends to a great extent on the surface being highly polished. A chamois leather is the best thing to use for polishing the reflector. Do not use abrasive polishes. Kettles: Aluminium ketties should not be filled

with hot water drawn from the hot tap. Hot water is stored in a copper cylinder and as a result very small particles of copper may enter the kettle and set up a chemical reaction with the impurities in the aluminium. Water heaters: In the interests of economy, lagging of the hot water cylinder and pipes is recommended. Asbestos jackets for the cylinder and felt wrapping for the pipes are suitable, but if these mat= erials are not procurable, use corrugated paper, an old blanket or a piece of felt. The only danger with the latter is the risk of harbouring moths. Washing machines: See that the pressure on the wringer rollers is released after use if you have an agitator machine ... Lubricate the working parts regularly.

Vacuum cleaners: Ensure that the machine is kept clean and lubricated at regular intervals. Empty the bag frequently and keep nozzle attachments in good repair, as this improves the speed of cleaning.

Refrigerators: Oil the motor according to instructions, keep clean, and defrost the cooling coil frequently if' your refrigerator is of the nonautomatic defrosting type.

Toasters: It is advisable to keep these fairly free of left-over crumbs, otherwise they can turn to carbon, which if it comes into contact with the wiring, may cause an arc, and the wire may overheat and burn through. Conductors, through which electricity will pass easily, include all metals, water and some other liquids, and the ground. Insulators, through which electricity will not pass, include rubber, glass, air, slate, ebonite, bakelite, porcelain, mica, wool, silk, linen, paraffin wax shelac, paper and dry wood.

If three-pin plugs and sockets and three-core flex are used, the danger of a person handling an electrical appliance becoming a conductor is eliminated. Any leakage of electricity due to faulty insulation is safely conducted to earth and the user would be protected from shock.