Urgent appliance safety steps

• You smell gas

  1. Don't use light switches, phones, or flames inside.
  2. Leave the home with everyone.
  3. Call your gas utility or 911 from outside.
  4. Don't return until you're told it's safe.

• Smoke, burning smell, or sparking

  1. Stop the appliance.
  2. Switch off the breaker or unplug it only if you can do so safely.
  3. If there's fire, leave and call 911.
  4. Don't use it again until a technician has inspected it.

• Water leaking

  1. If water is near an outlet or cord, switch off the breaker first.
  2. Close the appliance's water supply valve.
  3. Dry the floor to prevent slips and damage.
  Washer leaking

• Appliance was flooded

  1. Don't plug in or switch on anything that sat in floodwater.
  2. Gas appliances need inspection before relighting.
  3. Have each appliance inspected before use.
  After a power outage or flood

• Microwave sparking or damaged door

  1. Stop using it.
  2. Never open the cabinet — internal parts can hold a dangerous charge after unplugging.
  Microwave repair

• Range tipping or unstable

  1. Keep weight off the open oven door.
  2. Confirm an anti-tip bracket is installed and engaged.
  Stove & range repair

We don't publish homeowner instructions for gas, refrigerant, live electrical, or microwave internal work. Our editorial standards