{"id":19839,"date":"2023-10-19T19:21:18","date_gmt":"2023-10-19T19:21:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/houston-tx-puroclean-central-southwest-houston\/?post_type=blog&amp;p=19839"},"modified":"2023-10-19T19:21:18","modified_gmt":"2023-10-19T19:21:18","slug":"extension-cord-safety-tips","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/houston-tx-puroclean-central-southwest-houston\/blog\/extension-cord-safety-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Extension Cord Safety Tips: A Comprehensive Guide to Safety and Efficiency"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shorter days and cooler temperatures mean it&#8217;s time to get the holiday decorations out and on display! Extension cords are an essential tool when arranging our chilling Halloween lights or festive December scenes. Although they make the process easier and more fun, prioritizing extension cord safety must be addressed. We&#8217;ve compiled a comprehensive list of 17 tips to help ensure that you&#8217;re using your extension 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.\n\" \/><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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 operate them safely.<\/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\">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\">Dealing with Fire Damage? Turn to PuroClean of Central Southwest Houston  Today!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fire damage can ruin the positive energy and good vibes of the season. Fortunately, when your property needs restoration, PuroClean of Central Southwest Houston  is here to help! Our expert team and up-to-date technology ensure that the effects of fire damage are remediated promptly and thoroughly, giving you peace of mind and allowing you to enjoy the holidays worry-free. We are available around the clock, so don&#8217;t hesitate to contact us at <a href=\"tel:8328565900\">(832) 856-5900<\/a> for any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/houston-tx-puroclean-central-southwest-houston\/services\/smoke-and-fire-damage-restoration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">fire damage remediation<\/a> needs in Southwest Houston.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Extension cords are an essential tool when arranging our chilling Halloween lights or festive December scenes. Although they make the process easier and more fun, prioritizing extension cord safety must be addressed. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19840,"template":"","blog-category":[14],"class_list":["post-19839","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","blog-category-fire-restoration"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/houston-tx-puroclean-central-southwest-houston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/19839","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/houston-tx-puroclean-central-southwest-houston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/houston-tx-puroclean-central-southwest-houston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/houston-tx-puroclean-central-southwest-houston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/houston-tx-puroclean-central-southwest-houston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/19839\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/houston-tx-puroclean-central-southwest-houston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19840"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/houston-tx-puroclean-central-southwest-houston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19839"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"blog-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/houston-tx-puroclean-central-southwest-houston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog-category?post=19839"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}