Space Heaters

Space heaters get moved around quite a bit, especially since they should be positioned a safe distance from other furniture. This makes situating them rather awkward when their cord doesn’t quite reach the wall outlet. However, an extension cord is not an option.

“Power strips and extension cords can easily overheat and pose a fire safety risk,” warns Daniel Mock, vice president of operations at Mister Sparky Electricians. “While this may cause difficulty in arranging a safe place for the heater to do its job, it’s better to move belongings out of the way and plug it in safely,” he says.

Refrigerators and Freezers

Since refrigerators and freezers need to function properly and continuously at all times, it is paramount that these super-sized appliances are plugged directly into a wall outlet.

“Since refrigerators and freezers are constantly in use, they need more power to operate than other devices,” explains Mock. Using extensions cords or plugging them into power strips may cause the circuit to trip. (The thought of all the food in your fridge spoiling should be all the motivation you need.)

Microwaves

When it comes to microwaves, it’s best not to mess around. Because a microwave requires 12 to 15 amps to power up, it must be plugged into a wall outlet. 

If your home does not have enough outlets, Mock recommends asking a professional electrician to assist. They could possibly make space for a new outlet in the kitchen, which would lessen your load and reliance on extension cords.

Coffee Makers and Toasters

Though smaller appliances, coffee makers and toasters are deceptively dangerous when it comes to their potential for kitchen electrical fires. “Though lightweight in appearance, these appliances use a lot of power that would overload a power strip or extension cord,” says Mock. “With toasters, there is a network of exposed wires inside and much power is required to fire up these wires.”

To keep your coffee brewing and your bread toasting, ditch the extension cords and plug directly into the wall.

Slow Cookers and Hot Plates

The convenience of slow cookers is unrivaled: morning ingredients thrown together transform into dinner after a long day’s work. And when it comes to keeping your dishes warm for timed consumption, hot plates are invaluable. But these appliances require ongoing electricity to keep them functioning for continuous hours, so an extension cord or power strip is not recommended.

“Since power strips are not designed to function for long intervals of time, they cannot provide sufficient electricity needed by a slow cooker or a hot plate for optimum function,” explains Mock. It is always best to plug these appliances directly into the wall to be sure that your food is cooking safely, especially when you’ve stepped away from the kitchen.

Hair-Care Appliances

There’s a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to your hair-care appliances, starting with the amount of electricity they require to do their job. “Hair dryers, curling wands and straighteners need a lot of heat to function correctly,” says Mock, so avoid plugging these power-hungry appliances into extension cords.

Mock recommends having an electrician install a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlet to avoid common bathroom hazards, such as accidental water exposure. It is always better to be safe than sorry, so avoid plugging these power-hungry appliances into extension cords.

Sump Pump

Sump pumps are common in flood-zone basements—and a big no-no when it comes to extension cords. There is far too much risk due to both the power required and the risk of water coming into contact with the extension cord.

“Though helpful in keeping basements dry during flooding, sump pumps may not be effective if the power strip it is plugged into gets wet due to flooding,” warns Mock. To avoid such situations, Mock recommends having an electrician install a proper GFCI outlet on a wall above the expected flood level.

Treadmills

These days a lot of people have home gyms with treadmills, elliptical machines and stationary bikes. While not all home gyms are equipped with enough outlets for the machinery they contain, it is recommended that treadmills and similar gym equipment be connected directly into a grounded wall outlet.

If absolutely necessary, a three-prong grounded extension cord can be used, as long as it is short. The extension cord must also be heavy duty, which is to say, at least as thick as the treadmill’s power cord (normally 14 gauge).

Air Conditioners

With the amount of electricity involved, window air-conditioning units should be plugged directly into the wall for reasons of safety. “Air conditioning systems require more energy than can be provided,” advises Mock. However, certain extension cords do suffice for these cooling giants. “Only heavy-duty, properly rated extension cord can ensure your AC functions properly to avoid overloading,” Mock says.

Another Power Strip or Extension Cord

While it may be tempting to connect extension cords or power strips to elongate their reach, this practice is heavily discouraged. “Many make the mistake of using power strips in conjunction with one another, called ‘daisy chaining,’” explains Mock, “This quickly overloads the electrical system and violates fire safety codes.”