17 Extension Cord Tips for a Safer and More Organized Space

The holiday season is just around the corner, and with it comes a flurry of festive decorating. As we gear up to deck our halls with lights and decor galore, it’s time to start thinking about extension cord safety. With so many electrical devices to power up, it’s important to remember to use extension cords correctly. That’s why we’ve put together a comprehensive list of 17 tips to help guide you in the right direction. From choosing the right cords to avoiding overloading them, our tips will help you operate them safely and efficiently, ensuring that mishaps don’t dampen your holiday spirits.

17 Extension Cord Safety Tips

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. 

1. Only purchase cords approved by an independent testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
2. Don’t overload extension cords with too many appliances. The cord can overheat and possibly cause a fire.
3. Plug major appliances, such as refrigerators, dryers, and washers, directly into a wall receptacle outlet.
4. Check the maximum capacity of the extension cord and appliance or tool you’re using, and make sure you don’t exceed it.
5. Fully insert an extension cord plug (or any plug, for that matter) into an outlet.
6. Unplug cords when you’re not using them. Pull on the plug to safely unplug a cord, NOT on the cord itself.
7. Use extension cords only temporarily. Don’t substitute them for permanent wiring.
8. Don’t run cords through water or snow to avoid the high risk of electric shock.
9. Don’t run cords through ceilings, walls, doorways, or floors. Never place cords under carpets, either. Covered cords allow little heat to escape and pose a fire hazard.
10. Keep cords out of the path of foot traffic to prevent tripping. Don’t leave cords dangling anywhere where they can be pulled down and tripped over.
11. If you use too many extension cords, your home may not have enough outlets. Have a qualified electrician install additional outlets.
12. Avoid chaining multiple extension cords. Plug cords directly into mounted electrical receptacles and use cords that are long enough for your needs.
13. Never use indoor extension cords outdoors. Only use the cords marked for outdoor use.
14. Inspect cords before using them. If a cord heats up or is damaged in any way, discard it.
15. Always use cords with polarized and/or three-prong plugs. Don’t force a three-prong plug into two-prong outlets. Don’t remove or bend the ground pin to force a fit.
16. When using cord-bundling devices, such as spiral wire wrap, avoid cramming cords together to prevent damaging the cord’s insulation.
17. Never use staples or nails to attach cords to a surface like a wall to prevent puncturing the cord’s insulation.

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The holiday season should be a time of warmth, love, and joy, but the thought of flames engulfing your home and putting your belongings and loved ones at risk can turn it into a nightmare. Don’t let fire damage ruin your festive spirit. PuroClean of San Dimas offers top-of-the-line fire damage remediation services to restore your home to its pre-loss condition. Our skilled technicians are available around the clock and use the latest technology to ensure the job is done right. If you need fire damage remediation in San Dimas, call us today at (909) 830-8900 so we can help you get your life and property back on track.