Electromagnet Use in a House

Appliances

• Almost every kitchen appliance functions with the assistance of an electromagnet. Microwaves, refrigerators and some ovens create electromagnetic fields when they are turned on. Despite their smaller size, microwaves tend to generate the strongest field of these three appliances. The field generated by a microwave can be over 100 times stronger than that generated by a refrigerator, according to the World Health Organization. Microwave ovens are designed with a protective shield that prevents the bulk of the radiation from escaping containment. Most dishwashers are also built with electromagnets.

Radio and Television

• Radios are built solely for the purpose for sending, receiving and manipulating the structure of electromagnetic waves. Some radios only work with either amplitude-modulated (AM) or frequency-modulated (FM) waves, but most modern devices can operate with either. Televisions require electromagnets to create a visual display on the screen. TVs that are equipped with antennae need the magnetic field to receive FM waves, just like radios. Any device that has a speaker, including radios and TVs, operate with the assistance of electromagnetic fields.

Heat and Light

• Electromagnets are also built into many devices that generate light or a substantial amount of heat. Every light bulb in a home generates its own electromagnetic field. Hair dryers, coffee machines and toasters create electromagnetic fields as well. Coffee machines generate a field 12 times stronger than that of a light bulb, while fields produced by toasters and hair dryers are about 30 percent stronger than those of coffee machines, according to the World Health Organization.

Other Devices

• Doorbells are common contraptions found next to the front door of many homes throughout the United States. These devices use their magnetic field to transform mechanical energy, which is created when the bell button is pressed, into an electrical current and sound energy, according to the University of Kentucky. Vacuum cleaners also generate significant electromagnetic fields that are almost the same strength as those of televisions and coffee machines.