{"id":19746,"date":"2023-10-23T16:27:43","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T16:27:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/atlanta-ga-puroclean-midtown-atlanta\/?post_type=blog&amp;p=19746"},"modified":"2023-10-23T16:27:43","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T16:27:43","slug":"extension-cord-safety-tips","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/atlanta-ga-puroclean-midtown-atlanta\/blog\/extension-cord-safety-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Extension Cord Safety Tips: 17 Tips to Keep You Safe and Powered Up"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As the days get shorter and the temperature outside cools, many of us bring out our holiday decorations. Nothing sets the festive mood like a beautifully lit home filled with cheer. However, it&#8217;s important to be mindful of extension cord safety when powering up those decorations. Our comprehensive list of 17 extension cord safety tips has you covered! No matter what kind of decorations you&#8217;re using or what you&#8217;re plugging in, these tips will guide you in the right direction to ensure you&#8217;re operating your cords safely and efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/paper-attachments.dropboxusercontent.com\/s_052F463065973ED0C039DBD0758F7A29AB6DBD1EAABE69A1FD133E2501154404_1697567073322_AdobeStock_543079040.jpeg\" alt=\"Several beige extension cords plugged into an outlet and overloaded with various plugs. Extension cord safety tips state that you should never overload your cords.\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Overloading extension cords can spell trouble for your home.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">17 Extension Cord Safety Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Extension cords are convenient tools that can help us expand our reach and plug in electrical devices anywhere we need them. However, knowing extension cord safety tips can help you utilize them in a safer fashion.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"1\">\n<li><strong>Only p<\/strong><strong>urchase cords<\/strong> approved by an independent testing laboratory, such as <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ul.com\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Underwriters Laboratories<\/a> (UL).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Don\u2019t overload extension<\/strong> cords with too many appliances. The cord can overheat and possibly cause a fire.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Plug major appliances<\/strong>, such as refrigerators, dryers, and washers, directly into a wall receptacle outlet.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Check the maximum capacity<\/strong> of the extension cord and appliance or tool you\u2019re using, and make sure you don\u2019t exceed it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fully insert an extension cord plug<\/strong> (or any plug, for that matter) into an outlet.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Unplug cords<\/strong> when you\u2019re not using them. Pull on the plug to safely unplug a cord, NOT on the cord itself.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use extension cords<\/strong> only temporarily. Don\u2019t substitute them for permanent wiring.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Don\u2019t run cords<\/strong> through water or snow to avoid the high risk of electric shock.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Don\u2019t run cords<\/strong> through ceilings, walls, doorways, or floors. Never place cords under carpets, either. Covered cords allow little heat to escape and pose a fire hazard.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Keep cords out of the path<\/strong> of foot traffic to prevent tripping. Don\u2019t leave cords dangling anywhere where they can be pulled down and tripped over.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If you use too many extension cords<\/strong>, your home may not have enough outlets. Have a qualified electrician install additional outlets.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Avoid chaining multiple extension cords. <\/strong>Plug cords directly into mounted electrical receptacles and use cords that are long enough for your needs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Never use indoor extension cords outdoors<\/strong>. Only use the cords marked for outdoor use.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Inspect cords<\/strong> before using them. If a cord heats up or is damaged in any way, discard it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Always use cords<\/strong> with polarized and\/or three-prong plugs. Don\u2019t force a three-prong plug into two-prong outlets. Don\u2019t remove or bend the ground pin to force a fit.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>When using cord-bundling devices<\/strong>, such as spiral wire wrap, avoid cramming cords together to prevent damaging the cord\u2019s insulation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Never use staples or nails<\/strong> to attach cords to a surface like a wall to prevent puncturing the cord\u2019s insulation.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/paper-attachments.dropboxusercontent.com\/s_052F463065973ED0C039DBD0758F7A29AB6DBD1EAABE69A1FD133E2501154404_1697567085492_AdobeStock_108250546.jpeg\" alt=\"\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Always ensure your cords are in good condition before using them.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">For Fire Damage Restoration This Holiday Season, Call PuroClean of Midtown Atlanta<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Fire damage can cause devastation and emotional stress\u2014two things we don&#8217;t want to worry about this time of the year! That&#8217;s why having a reliable <a href=\"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/atlanta-ga-puroclean-midtown-atlanta\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">fire damage remediation<\/a> company matters. At PuroClean of Midtown Atlanta, we understand how overwhelming dealing with property damage can be, especially during the holiday season. That&#8217;s why our experienced team is here to make the process as smooth as possible. Don&#8217;t hesitate to give us a call at <a href=\"tel:4047777876\">(404) 777-7876<\/a> if you need fire damage remediation in Midtown Atlanta.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As winter and the holiday season approaches, many of us prepare to decorate our homes with festive lights and decorations. Extension cords are a must-have tool for powering up those displays, but it&#8217;s crucial to use them correctly to avoid potential safety hazards. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19747,"template":"","blog-category":[],"class_list":["post-19746","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/atlanta-ga-puroclean-midtown-atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/19746","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/atlanta-ga-puroclean-midtown-atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/atlanta-ga-puroclean-midtown-atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/atlanta-ga-puroclean-midtown-atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/atlanta-ga-puroclean-midtown-atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/19746\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/atlanta-ga-puroclean-midtown-atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19747"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/atlanta-ga-puroclean-midtown-atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19746"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"blog-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/atlanta-ga-puroclean-midtown-atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog-category?post=19746"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}