Even when used correctly or after being turned off, some home appliances pose deadly fire hazards.

That's one startling finding from a recent Consumer Reports investigation. According to the product review magazine, major appliances cause 150,000 home blazes in North America annually, resulting in 3,670 personal injuries, 150 deaths and $547 million worth of property damage claims.

The biggest offenders are kitchen stoves, clothes dryers, air conditioners and microwave ovens, according to the U.S. National Fire Incident Reporting System. Fortunately, the same card you used to buy these appliances could help you replace or repair them if they become faulty -- or dangerous.

Credit card extended warranty protection
Many credit cards come with a free insurance benefit known as an extended warranty, so named because it adds a one-year extension to the manufacturer's basic product warranty. Under the extended guarantee, the insurer can choose to replace a faulty product, pay parts and labour for repairs or offer a cash refund.

To qualify, the full cost of the product must have been charged to the card offering the extended warranty protection. The original purchase price also defines the extended warranty's maximum liability. No other damages, legal fees or other expenses are eligible.

One immediate advantage of the credit card freebie is that you won't need expensive retail extended warranties that salespeople often pitch when you buy an appliance at a store.

Some critics argue that the credit card warranty is worthless, because coverage excludes inherent product defects. However, manufacturers are directly responsible for mass design and production mistakes, and typically will repair or replace defective appliances via product recalls.

Scrutinizing your card's extended warranty protection
Most cardholder agreements reviewed for this article, including those from BMO Bank of Montreal, PC Financial and TD Canada Trust, automatically provide one year of extended warranty protection if the manufacturer's basic warranty is less than five years. You must provide satisfactory documentation, including proof of purchase, when you make a claim.

If the basic warranty is more than five years, there might be some complications -- so be sure to check your cardholder agreement. The RBC Royal Bank cardholder agreement, for example, specifies a combined five-year maximum for the basic warranty plus extended warranties covered by the card. That means that, if the basic product warranty is five years or longer, no extended coverage is available through the card.

Also, make sure that both the basic and extended warranties are valid in Canada. This is particularly important for cross-border shoppers who prefer American appliance stores. The CIBC extended warranty, for example, expressly covers items charged in Canada or the United States.

Finally, be sure to ask about what happens to the extended warranty should the appliance maker go bankrupt. RBC's cardholder agreement, for example, has language specifying that the extended guarantee will be honoured for up to one year following the date on which the manufacturer declares bankruptcy.

Registered warranties to the rescue
Once you've got your warranty (through the manufacturer or your credit card), register it with the manufacturer, and you'll enjoy an ongoing safety perk. Many appliance makers immediately notify registrants about product recalls, especially those involving consumer safety. That notice can serve as a life-saving alert about defective appliances that could ignite a deadly fire while you and your family sleep.

Sure, you can research defective product warnings and recalls on your own. Health Canada has a Consumer Product Safety online search for finding product advisories, warnings and alerts. And websites for major Canadian retailers, including Sears, Hudson's Bay and Home Depot, list recalls for products they sell.

Yet the best source for product recall notices is the manufacturer. By registering at least the basic product warranty -- and preferably also the extended warranty -- your chances of receiving prompt notice about product problems increase dramatically.

See related: How to claim old bank account money; Big cash savings from little-known credit card freebies