Read the instructions

 Read the what?
 

Manufacturer’s instructions.  They come with everything from clock radios to gas appliances.  They can be a single tissue-thin sheet that comes with a watch or a thick manual shipped with a furnace.  There is however, one thing they all have in common.  They are seldom read.  Most of us throw the manuals in the kitchen “junk drawer” or other suitable repository. Others have come to grips with reality and simply throw them away, knowing they will never be read. 
Any good home inspector can tell you that these manuals are often ignored. After all, very few people actually enjoy reading instruction manuals and will avoid the task as long as possible including forever.  If the appliance works when you turn it on, who needs to know more? But there are a few basic safety issues we should talk about.
Did you know that new ranges are shipped with anti-tip brackets?  They’re usually just pieces of angle metal with holes.  They don’t look like much but they’re actually important, especially if you have children.  The brackets are screwed into the bottom of the wall behind the range.  If the curious child really wants to know what’s cooking and steps on the oven door to see, the range and whatever is cooking will not tip over. 
If you are fortunate enough to have one of those big built-in refrigerators, here’s a tip.  Because the motor is on top, the units are top heavy. They need to be secured.  Imagine a party of teens hanging on the door as they prepare to devour the refrigerator contents.
Gas hookups come with another set of safety rules.  There should be a shut off valve.  The connecting tubing should be flexible and not subject to physical abuse (pots, pans, heavy skillets), in the cabinet below the cook-top.  Where the connection goes through a wall or cabinet, it should be rigid pipe, not flex.  An appliance designed for use with natural gas (underground from the gas company) must be converted before using with propane gas (from a tank outside). 
Dishwasher air gap devices are those things that stick up out of the sink next to the faucet. They should not spit water.  If this happens, the drain tube is probably blocked. On the off chance that the manual was read, it would have said to be sure to slope the drain pipe to drain.  No sags or dips or kinks please. 
Exhaust fans don’t just keep the kitchen from smelling like whatever you last cooked.  They remove unwanted moisture vapors.  If you have a gas cook top or range, the exhaust fan can remove the products of combustion like poisonous carbon monoxide to the exterior.  However in some cases, the fan is a recirculating type that does not vent to the outside but just filters odors and blows it back into the room.  This is advisable only if the room is large enough and the air infiltration rate is high enough because the filters don’t remove the carbon monoxide and moisture.   When in doubt, duct the exhaust to the exterior.
Remember some basic rules. Built-in appliances usually have to be attached to cabinetry or something solid.  Electrical and plumbing connections should be made by qualified specialists. 
If you are motivated to look at that stack of manufacturer’s instructions in the junk drawer, you might want to scan them for operational or safety tips.  But there is another treasure waiting. You may be pleased to find instructions for something you got rid of ages ago.  Fell free to toss these documents, without guilt or regret, thankful that you don’t have to read them.