New Electrical Appliances

Get a safe start:

	Before you install a new or used appliance, read the manufacturer's instruction manual carefully.
	Before you plug in the appliance, look for cracks or damage in wiring, plugs, and connectors.
	Make sure plugs fit securely into outlets, but don't force a plug into an outlet if it doesn't fit.
	Never remove the ground pin (the third prong) to make a three-prong plug fit a two-hole outlet.

Take precautions with wiring.
For more elaborate appliance installation projects, turn off a circuit breaker or unscrew a fuse. (The main house switch needs to be turned off when you are handling a fuse.) Before you touch any bare wires with your hands or tools, make sure the circuit is truly "dead" by testing it with a high-voltage neon-bulb tester.

Avoid overloading circuits.
Too many appliances, or appliances that use more power than a circuit can handle, can cause a fire. If you aren't knowledgeable about your home's circuits, call a professional.

Make sure the appliance plug fits properly into the outlet and the appliance uses a GFCI or shock protector.