Extension cord safety
With the growing number of electrical appliances and gadgets that we use nowadays, we sometimes find ourselves running out of outlets to plug them in. Thankfully, we have extension cords to fill this need, providing us with extra sockets for our demands. That being said, extension cords are undoubtedly one of the things that every household must have.
As useful as they are though, extension cords, when used improperly, can be the cause of many untoward incidents and mishaps. Thus, to ensure that we avoid any unfortunate incidents with using this device, here are some useful safety tips to bear in mind.
- Don’t run electrical cords under the carpet. It is not always pleasant to see an extension cord running across the room, which is why many people often put them under rugs and carpets to hide them. However, this is not a good practice since you can step on them unknowingly and break the insulation, which can either result to electrocution, or the electric current burning up the carpet and ultimately, your home.
- Don’t run extension cords in the middle of the room. Instead, place them along the sides of the wall. This will help to minimize the chances of you, your kids, or your pets on tripping on them and meeting an accident.
- Use the appropriate extension cords. Extension cords come in different types and makes. There are extension cords which are specifically designed for indoor use, and there are extension cords that are designed for outdoor use. Never use an indoor extension cords for the outdoors, since they are not able to withstand outdoor weather so easily, and are not as properly insulated as outdoor extension cords.
- Avoid “octopus” connections. Extension cords are designed with at least one or more sockets, but this does not mean that you need to plug everything there since this will cause an overload and be the start of a fire. In addition, avoid plugging one (or more) extension cords into another extension cord, for the same reason stated above.
- Lastly, store extension cords properly. Rolling them up is recommended because there is less stress on the insulation and thus prevents breaking. Store them in a cool dry place as well, away from any source of moisture (like windows) or excessive heat (like the heating system).
