Even everyday electrical equipment like power strips can be a safety risk when not maintained or used properly. The Electrical Safety Foundation International reports that more than 3,300 home fires originate from power strips and extension cords each year.
We care about your safety. Follow these best practices to stay safe when using power strips and extension cords.
Use power strips and extension cords in the right locations for the right purposes
Keeping your power strips and extension cords in their proper places and away from hazards helps ensure their safe use.
Only use power strips and extension cords indoors unless they are specifically designed for outdoor use.
Always keep cords, appliances and devices away from water, wet hands or other moisture.
Never use plugged-in electrical devices near a bathtub, sink or shower – only use battery-operated devices.
Keep children and pets away from all cords, power strips and outlets.
Only use extension cords for temporary needs – don’t use them as a substitute for permanent wiring.
Keep power strips and cords uncovered so that air around them can circulate freely. Never run cords or appliances under carpets, rugs or furniture.
Avoid overloading
Overloaded power strips or extension cords can create a fire hazard.
Only use power strips for low-voltage electronics.
Always use extension cords that match the amperage of the appliance or equipment you plan to connect.
Do not plug a power strip into another power strip or an extension cord.
Don’t plug multiple power strips into the same wall outlet. Plugging in too many in one place can overload the circuit.
Check your power strips and surge protectors for damage regularly. If a power strip feels hot to the touch, unplug and remove it immediately.
Consider surge protectors to guard you and your electronics
Surge protectors look much like power strips but offer a greater level of safety for you and your devices. Their built-in systems help prevent power surges from damaging connected devices, making them great for electronics sensitive to changes in power levels, such as TVs and computers. This extra protection makes surge protectors a bit more expensive than power strips. When shopping for a surge protector, you can distinguish it from a power strip by the label on its packaging or by checking that its listed features include surge protection or surge suppression.
Advanced power strips protect your devices and help you save energy
An advanced power strip (APS) not only works like a surge protector, but it also helps reduce “phantom load,” the electricity a plugged-in device uses even when switched off. With an APS, you choose one device to serve as the “control,” such as your TV. That way, when you turn off your TV, other related electronics plugged into the same APS – your sound system, media players, etc. – also turn off automatically and stop drawing electricity. Use an APS with your home office or entertainment center and save yourself time, energy and money on your bill!
A brief PLUG for outlet safety
Keep these safety practices in mind when it comes to the outlets you use and what you use them for:
When unplugging a power strip or extension cord, always pull on the plug and not the cord itself. This helps prevent fire hazards and damage to your equipment.
Never modify or remove the round prong on a plug, which connects the inside of the outlet to the ground wire. The ground wire protects you from shock if the outer surface of an electric device ever becomes energized.
Use outlets protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). GFCIs protect you from shock by quickly cutting power to the outlet when they detect a current flow interruption. An outlet with GFCIs have built-in test and reset buttons. The National Electric Code requires GFCIs on all outdoor outlets, as well as outlets in basements, bathrooms, crawl spaces, garages, kitchens, laundry areas, and any other area with a sink or likely to be exposed to water or moisture.
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