Safety Tips to Consider before and after Buying an Extension Cord
If you have a lot of electronic devices in the home, you probably have more than a couple of extension cords throughout the house. While extension cords are convenient, you need to keep an eye on them just like you would any other part of your home in order to keep potential safety problems at bay. Here are some extension cord safety tips to keep in mind.
Only Purchase from Reputable Sellers
When buying an extension cord, make sure you are getting it from a reputable seller with a good track record. Whether you are looking to buy extension cords online or in a store, you want to have confidence that the cords are coming from a vendor or company with an excellent safety track record.
Pay Attention to Indoor vs. Outdoor Ratings
When buying extension cords, keep in mind where you are going to be using it. For example, if you are looking for an extension cord to string up Christmas lights outside, you will need to get an extension cord that specifically says it is rated for outdoor use. Using an indoor cord outside can cause that cord to decay at a much faster rate and could lead to a serious safety hazard.
Match the Wattage Correctly
Be aware of how much wattage you are dealing with in your electronic devices. When purchasing an extension cord, look to see how much wattage it can safely handle. Trying to plug in a device that has more wattage than the cord is designed for could damage the device, the cord, or even your house if it starts a fire.
Don't Leave It Plugged in When You Don't Need It
Extend the life of your extension cords by unplugging them when you are not using them. Store your extension cords indoors and don't leave the cord just sitting around somewhere as someone could trip on it and stretch the cord in a way that could damage it.
Don't Daisy Chain
In general, try to avoid stringing more than one extension cord together. If you need to extend a device to an outlet that is 10 feet away, then invest in a 10-foot cord instead of trying to string two five-foot cords together. This will allow your electric devices to operate safely.
If you are in the market for some new extension cords, contact an online or in-store supplier today for more information.
Share
