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Limit Extension cords to reduce risk of fire
If you use a lot of extension cords in your home or apartment, government safety experts say doing away with as many cords as possible can improve the safety of your home. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said homeowners can use fewer extension cords by taking the simple step of relocating floor lamps, clocks, radios, television sets and other electrical products closer to wall receptacles. According to CPSC estimates, there are nearly 4,600 residential home fires each year associated with extension cords; these fires kill 70 people and injure about 230 others annually. Apart from fires, another 2,200 shock-related injuries happen with extension cords every year. CPSC offers the following safety hints for using extension cords:
- Don't use an extension cord unless absolutely necessary. If you do, they must be marked No. 16 or some lower AWG number (the lower the number, the larger the wire and the more current the cord can safely carry). Also, the cord should bear the certification label of an independent testing laboratory (such as Underwriters' Laboratory). Do not use No. 18 extension cords, which were previously used for floor lamps and other low-wattage electrical products and may still be in many homes.
- Always use 3-wire extension cords for appliances with 3-prong plugs. Never remove the third prong, which is a safety feature designed to reduce chances of shock or electrocution.
- When disconnecting cords from outlet, always pull on the plug rather than the cord itself. Discard any old, cracked, worn or damaged cords.
- Don't overload cords by plugging in appliances that draw more watts than the rating of the cord. You can check this easily by examining cords for high-wattage appliances. Use extension cords labeled for outdoor use when powering tools and garden products outside the home. Also, it is a good practice to plug into an outlet protected by a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). The device shuts down power in milliseconds if the consumer is exposed to an electrocution or electrical burn hazard.
- Don't run cords under carpets or rugs, because they prevent heat from being released by the cord.
- Finally, if an extension cord is in permanent use, consider having an outlet installed closer to the object using the cord. Extension cords are designed for temporary use only.
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