Sometimes there just isn’t enough space in the fridge for a few bottles of wine. In these situations, a wine cooler comes in very handy! But like all electrical appliances, they come with safety risks. Read on to find out how to use your wine cooler safely.
Wine Cooler Safety
Safety First
- When buying a new wine cooler, always buy from a reputable dealer, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Always register a new wine cooler with the manufacturer. That way you can be contacted easily if a safety notice or recall is required. While the chances of a faulty product causing serious damage are small, the risk is still there and returning a faulty product or ordering its repair is very easy to do. To register all your appliances, regardless of age, visit our Product Registration page.
- Use our free online Product Recall checker to see if your wine cooler or any other electrical items have been recalled.
- Check that your appliance has a UK plug, but if it doesn’t, do not use a UK travel adaptor - get in touch with the retailer and ask for their advice.
- Do regular checks of the plug and socket for burn marks, sounds of ‘arcing’ (buzzing or crackling) or if it feels too hot to touch. If you have fuses blowing or circuit-breakers tripping then contact a registered electrician to investigate.
- Ensure your home is fully protected by an RCD (residual current device), which can be found in your fuse box (also known as a consumer unit). An RCD is a life-saving device that protects against dangerous electric shock and reduces the risk of electrical fires.
- If you don’t have RCD protection in your fuse box for your sockets, consider installing an RCD socket or plug to protect you and your property from serious appliance faults.
- Sometimes, appliance fires are caused by something beyond your control. Smoke alarms and heat detectors are essential in keeping you safe by raising the alarm in the event of a fire. There should be a minimum of one alarm/detector per floor and fit enough to cover all areas where a fire could start, and make sure they are tested regularly.
- If a fire does start, don't try to fight the fire. Get out and call 999 immediately.
Safe Use
- If you notice a burning smell or any unusual noises, switch the wine cooler off immediately and contact the retailer and/or manufacturer.
- Do not store food or any other items inside your wine cooler.
- Don’t place any items on top of your wine cooler.
- Make sure the vents are free from any objects, and always leave space between the wine cooler and the wall.
- Before cleaning, make sure to switch off and unplug the wine cooler.
- Ensure that the area around the wine cooler is free from any flammable objects.
- Always turn off the wine cooler at the socket when not in use.