ELECTRICAL

EXTENSION CORD SAFETY AT HOME (INDOOR AND OUTDOOR)

01/25/2023

ELECTRICAL

EXTENSION CORD SAFETY AT HOME (INDOOR AND OUTDOOR)

01/25/2023

When you’re plugging in your devices, appliances, and other products, it can be difficult to have the outlet placed exactly where you need it. Additionally, there never seem to be enough outlets for all of the devices! Using extension cords at home is not only about safety precautions but also about reducing your electricity bill. With these tips below, we hope that you will minimize the dangers of being electrocuted, damaging electronic devices, and of course, eliminating chances of causing a house fire.

You may be thinking that this is common sense. There are been numerous times when going to a friend’s house and seeing an extension cord plugged into another power bar. Or perhaps you’ve seen your friend plug two extension cords into one outlet. These two prime examples are definitely fire hazards. When you’re overbearing the outlet beyond its capacity it will trigger a power surge. And this can horribly damage your appliance and devices or cause a house fire.

What’s an Extension Cord?

An extension cord is also known as a power strip, power bar, power extender, drop cord, or trip cord. When you have a cord that’s not long enough to reach an outlet, you would use an extension cord to add length to reach the outlet.

Extension cords are “bundle[s] of insulated electrical wires with a plug on each end. Electrical current flowing through wires generates heat, and when too much current flows through a wire, it can overheat and melt the plastic insulation of the wires, causing short circuits and fires” (1).

Extension cords vary in length and variations. Make sure you read the packaging and instructions to be knowledgeable about the type of extension cord you are purchasing.

If you want to learn about extension cords in-depth, this resource will give you Cords 101.

This NY Times article on The Best Extension Cords For Your Home and Garage has great insights as well.

How To Practice Extension Cord Safety At Home

Did you know that one of the leading causes of house fires is from misusing and incorrectly installing electrical equipment? These are the main culprits of house fires in relation to electric usage:

Improper electrical installation
Overloaded outlets
Hazardous placements of cords
Overloading an extension cord

Some Electrical Cord Safety Tips for Indoor Use:

Before you plug in your cord, look around for hazards: Water, heat, and most common traffic sources. Avoid fire hazards and potential injuries from tripping over the cord.
Inspect your cords to ensure there are no broken pieces or missing ground pins
Make sure the extension cord that you’re using is your intended use.
3 prong extension cords are the safest, standard cords that have ground pin.
When you’re not using the devices that are plugged into the power strip, switch it to OFF to save electricity and some dollars off of your electricity bill.

Avoid Doing This With Your Cords:

Never have wet hands or wet cords when plugging in
If the cord is missing the ground pins, do NOT use it! It’s a fire hazard.
Never pull the cord at the wire, pull it out from the outlet at the plug to avoid tearing the internal wires.
Do NOT place your cord through windows, doorways, and under carpeting.
Do NOT plug multiple power cords into a GFCI outlet.
Do NOT plug in additional power cords into your extension cord.

To understand what a GFCI outlet is, here is an article to better inform you.

Outdoor Cord Usage Tips:

Here are some helpful tips for our outdoor extension cords:

Always look for a cord that specifies that it’s meant for outdoors.
Always plug into an outdoor GFCI outlet.
If your outdoor extension cord/plug gets wet, leave it in a safe place until it is completely dry.
“All-purpose extension cord” does NOT mean it’s safe to use outside. It is not weather-proof.
Do NOT touch the plug when wet.
Do NOT run the cord from inside through the window or door.
Do NOT leave your outdoor extension cord plugged in. The best practice is to store it properly when it’s not in use.

Call High Mark's expert technicians to schedule your appointment for your electrical repairs and installations done today at 604-256-1205.

We hope you don’t feel overloaded with dos and don’ts of extension cord use in your home. It would be a careless way to lose your beloved home from improper use of electrical equipment like a power strip. Use extension cords confidently and without any doubts by applying our tips from this blog post.

Sources Cited:

(1) The Spruce: Choosing a Safe Electrical Extension Cord. Fornisiano, Bob. March 18, 2022.