One embodiment provides a method including: prior to an initial period of operation of an appliance, storing in memory a first set of characteristics of the appliance; during an initial period of operation of the appliance, learning a second set of characteristics of the appliance; during subsequent operation of the appliance: detecting an adverse operating condition of the appliance; and based on the first set of characteristics, the second set of characteristics and the detected adverse operating condition, determining a corrective action to be taken with regard to the appliance, the corrective action comprising at least one of: switching off the appliance and warning a user of the detected adverse operating condition. Other aspects are described and claimed.