{"id":19838,"date":"2023-10-23T16:12:11","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T16:12:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/burlington-wi-puroclean-burlington\/?post_type=blog&amp;p=19838"},"modified":"2023-10-23T16:12:11","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T16:12:11","slug":"extension-cord-safety-tips","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/burlington-wi-puroclean-burlington\/blog\/extension-cord-safety-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Stay Safe: Essential Extension Cord Safety Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Now&#8217;s the time to start planning the holiday decorations! From pumpkin lights to twinkling Christmas displays, extension cords are essential for bringing your decor to life. But as with any electrical device, safety is key. That&#8217;s why we&#8217;ve put together a list of 17 essential extension cord safety tips for the upcoming season. No matter what you use them for, it&#8217;s best to use them correctly. Here&#8217;s what you need to know to prevent fire hazards and stay safe.&nbsp;<\/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 is important. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\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\">When You Need Expert Fire Damage Restoration, Call PuroClean of Burlington Today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>During this time of the year, the last thing you want to worry about is potential fire damage in your home! However, emergencies happen, so PuroClean of Burlington is here to provide thorough fire damage restoration when you need it most. As the &#8220;Paramedics of Property Damage\u2122,&#8221; we&#8217;ll restore your property promptly and efficiently, 24\/7. Please give us a call at <a href=\"tel:2623422226\">(262) 342-2226<\/a> for reliable <a href=\"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/burlington-wi-puroclean-burlington\/services\/smoke-and-fire-damage-restoration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">fire damage remediation<\/a> in Burlington.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Now&#8217;s the time to start planning the holiday decorations! From pumpkin lights to twinkling Christmas displays, extension cords are essential for bringing your decor to life. But as with any electrical device, safety is key. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19839,"template":"","blog-category":[14],"class_list":["post-19838","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","blog-category-fire-restoration"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/burlington-wi-puroclean-burlington\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/19838","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/burlington-wi-puroclean-burlington\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/burlington-wi-puroclean-burlington\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/burlington-wi-puroclean-burlington\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/burlington-wi-puroclean-burlington\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/19838\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/burlington-wi-puroclean-burlington\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19839"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/burlington-wi-puroclean-burlington\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19838"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"blog-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/burlington-wi-puroclean-burlington\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog-category?post=19838"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}