The extension cords are the solution to a frustrating situation: an outlet is never available when required. Though such convenience has its limits. Misused, the cords may overheat, melt at the plug or pose a chance of shock; particularly where a device consumes a lot of power over a prolonged period.
Home safety advice always puts extension cords in the category of temporary devices, not as a replacement to the proper wiring. Electrical distribution equipment problem is also attributed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Electrical Safety Foundation in the annual 41,000 residential fires, hundreds of fatalities and thousands of injuries. What gets plugged in where is more than a question of tidiness upon that account.
1. Space heaters
Portable heater is made to produce sustained heat and that constant demand may exceed what the cord may safely handle. Electricians keep on noting that extension cords or power strips should not be used in place of heaters since they will begin to overheat at the plug or inside the cord. A multi-year survey conducted by Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that in the period 1,700 fires a year were associated with portable space heaters.
2. Air conditioners (portable and window)
Air conditioners are dependent on a compressor which pumps out and draws considerable current upon initiation. Such a start-up load can be tough on an extension cord, particularly on longer runs when the resistance is greater. Another frequent problem that electricians signal is that a small AC can work more intensively and longer, which makes it produce more heat at the contact and creates the possibility of cord melting.
3. Refrigerators and freezers
Freezers and fridges have a continuous power consumption even with average wattage that may appear low, and they also have a compressor. A loose connection on the extension-cord can heat up the plug, and can also be a cause of failure or early wear. In the case of such appliances, a direct wall outlet would minimize the number of failure points.
4. Microwaves
Microwaves have the ability to attract big wattage with short bursts and this is precisely the type of demand that reveals weak or undersized cords. The cords in kitchens are also prone to winding around the cabinets, and underneath the appliances where things do not cool off easily and destruction may go unnoticed.
5. Toasters and toaster ovens
Big draw, little footprint Toasters and toaster ovens warm quickly, and require large current to do so. Electricians observe that the common cords (usually of 14-gauge) are used by many houses without the attention of whether the cord can carry the amount of amperage it needs, making the cord and receptacle more likely to overheat.
6. Air fryers
Most of the air fryers are similar to small convection ovens, with a heating coil that has a fan. Large models have a maximum pulling capacity of 2,000 watts, which allows them to fall into the category of plug and go to the wall. Countertop cooking also adds the likelihood of cross-loading with other appliances, which adds to load risk.
7. Slow cookers and hot plates
These are the gadgets that are usually left unattended through the hours, and it is during this time when weak points on the cord are revealed as heat through loose blades, worn insulation, a marginal gauge of wire, etc. As one of the electricians said, the issue was as follows: slow cookers and hot plates need stable and long-term power provision. The extension cords are not usually designed to be used over a long period and they may overheat due to constant usage, said Joel Worthington, president of Mr. Electric.
8. Hair dryers, curling iron
Hair tools integrate a heating element of high-watt with much on-off switch. They are also frequently used close to sinks and bathtubs where wetness increases the risk of a shock. In high wattage styling devices, the safest installation is an adequately grounded wall socket–not a cord running in a bath.
9. Washers and dishwashers
The large appliances are a combination of motors, heating (in most of the cycles) and long run times. They also have the predilection to be placed in narrow areas where the cords may be pinched or sharpened against the machine. In case one of the outlets is unavailable the more secure way of correcting them is to install the appropriate receptacle instead of using a cord to lengthen the power line.
10. E-bike and e-scooter chargers
Charging consumes hours of continuous electric loading, and the chargers are configured to contact a constant outlet. Electricians recommend that these chargers be plugged into a wall receptacle, to minimize heat build-up at the cord and plug. Such guidance is more significant in garages and entryways, where cords have a higher chance to be trodden upon or concealed.
There is an acceptable rule that most electricians follow and that is as follows: any device that heats or cools, or runs over long periods of time, must be in a wall outlet not on an extension cord. The same applies to anything that has got a compressor or a starting under-load motor.
Safety depends on simple things that are easy to overlook in the case of short-term jobs; never daisy-chain cords, never hide cords under rugs or behind walls, and never use any cord that feels warm or responds with cracking, fraying, or loose connections.
