Are You Using Extension Cords Wrong? 10 Things to Never Plug In

1. Refrigerators

Refrigerators are the boon of modern living. They help us preserve perishable foods for extended indoor stays, make ice to soothe post-workout pain, and ensure our fizzy drinks remain palatable during excruciating summer heat.

Refrigerators are also designed with heating components that utilize considerably less wattage. Standard fridges consume about 300 - 800 watts more than many kitchen appliances, which presents a compelling case for using them with extension cords.

However, refrigerators have one striking operational feature that makes them unideal for plugging into extension cords - their extended runtime.

Fridges typically run all night long and for the better part of the day. As such, they draw a significant amount of power and may cause an extension cord to malfunction.

The question of gauge rating frequently pops up when shopping for extension cords for heavy-duty appliances.

Gauge is a measure of the thickness or diameter of the individual conductor wires in an electrical cable. It’s a critical metric used in determining a cable’s power-handling abilities, with thicker wires able to harness electric current more effectively than thinner ones.

Extension cords are assigned distinct gauge ratings depending on the diameter of their conductors. Smaller numbers correspond with higher gauges and superior current handling properties.

Therefore, a 10 gauge extension cord is better suited for power-hungry appliances than, say, an 18-gauge cable. But as hinted, the fact that refrigerators are constantly running makes them unideal for use with extension cords, the cable’s gauge ratings notwithstanding.

2. Microwaves

Unlike refrigerators, microwaves don’t run all the time. So, imagine that you can safely use them with extension cords.

Unfortunately, microwaves are heavy-duty kitchen appliances that demand a fierce amount of power. Even if they only operate for a few minutes daily, this equipment can pose serious risks to your vulnerable extension cords.

The saving grace is that many modern kitchens have built-in microwaves. But if yours doesn’t have one, it’s safer to connect the appliance to a wall outlet using its dedicated power cord.

Microwaves vary in size and power needs, too.

Standard microwaves used in most kitchens and workplace break rooms are larger and more power-intensive, often requiring 800 – 1000 watts. In contrast, compact microwaves like those installed in hotel rooms and recreational vehicles (RVs) have an average wattage rating of 600 – 800 watts.

While smaller microwaves may be plugged into heavy-duty extension cords like the 220 extension cord, this should only happen briefly and occasionally. Your best bet is to stick to the wall socket.

3. Toasters and Toaster Ovens

Toasters are one of the smallest kitchen appliances, making them easy to use and move about. Unfortunately, size rarely counts when it comes to power consumption.

It’s not uncommon to find a small device drawing substantially higher current than larger equipment. That logic applies to toasters, which are known to consume a lot of energy.

Toaster ovens require even more power, with the standard wattage rating of 1200 – 1400 watts.

Now, the extension cord market teems with top-rated cables engineered for equipment with different current requirements. That includes the 14 gauge extension cord that suits medium-duty appliances and 10-gauge cables that are ideal for power-hungry devices.

However, these cords are better used for plugging equipment other than toasters and toaster ovens. Using an extension cord with either appliance can present serious fire hazards.

You’re safer connecting your toaster to the kitchen’s wall outlet.

4. Slow Cookers

Slow cookers are resourceful kitchen appliances designed to save time and energy. The equipment slowly cooks your meal in the background, allowing you to go about your other daily routines.

Slow cookers also utilize less cooking oil and can help reduce your monthly grocery expenditure. Besides, they’re excellent for batch cooking, such as when preparing vast pieces of meat or cereals for dinner.

But those benefits come with a trade-off – high power consumption.

Although standard slow cookers utilize 200 watts, a single cooking batch can take hours to be ready. That makes them unsuitable for use with extension cords.

Plugging a slow cooker into an extension cord can cause a current overload, leading to dangerous fires and explosions. Considering that these appliances usually work in the background without active monitoring, malfunctions can have devastating consequences.

The surest way to minimize those risks is to strictly plug your slow cooker into an electrical outlet installation.

5. Air Fryers

Just received an urgent call to work around lunch hour and can’t prepare a complete meal? Need to warm leftover French fries before running the day’s errands?

These are examples of the numerous scenarios in which an air fryer can save the day.

Air fryers let you warm side dishes and snacks when there’s no time to prepare a full meal. They’re also excellent for quick cooking.

As air fryers are designed for meal preparation, it’s unsurprising that they utilize high energy. Standard models can draw as much as 2000 watts, far exceeding most extension cords' limit.

Many homeowners often wonder if they can use dryer extension cord with their air fryers, as these cables are suitable for heavy-duty equipment.

While you can safely use some extension cords with your air fryer, conventional wisdom is to plug the appliance directly into the wall socket.

6. Air Conditioner (AC) Units

Nothing makes our indoor spaces more comfortable in the heat of summer than air conditioners blowing cool breeze across the room.

ACs mostly operate during the summer. But as the season heats up, the equipment may need to run all day long.

Moreover, air conditioners are power-hungry equipment. A standard AC unit designed for a 150-square-foot area may utilize up to 2,000 watts. That’s way too high for most extension cords to handle.

ACs must run for hours during warmer seasons, making them even less suitable for plugging into extension cords.

Getting your home installed with an overhead cable extension may prove helpful in powering wall-mounted appliances. It’s even better if it’s a short extension cord, as shorter cables handle electricity more effectively than longer ones.

However, extension cords (overhead or otherwise) should only be used for light-to-medium duty equipment. That excludes power-demanding appliances like air conditioners.

7. Space Heaters

You’ve probably wondered if space heaters can be used with heavy duty extension cords like the 10-gauge cables.

Well, that’s a great place to kick-start the conversation regarding the compatibility of space heaters with extension cords. Sadly, it’s also where the conversation ends.

Space heaters are one of the riskiest home appliances and shouldn’t be plugged into extension cords.

A Consumer Product Safety Commission report estimates that space heaters were responsible for 1700 fires annually between 2017 and 2019. In addition to causing millions in property damage, some fire incidents also resulted in deaths.

Not using a space heater with extension cords is one of the smartest ways to reduce fire hazards in your home or workplace. For perspective, space heaters generate about 1,500 watts. That’s more than enough to melt your extension cord conductors.

Experts still recommend investing in a heavy duty power strip and extension cord. Just don’t plug your space heater into them.

8. Sump Pump

Many sump pump models draw approximately 800 – 1050 watts when running. While that’s high enough to cause an explosion in your extension cord, it pales compared to the power these equipment utilize when starting (2000 – 4000 watts).

The primary application of sump pumps makes them more dangerous to use with extension cords. As these devices are typically used in moist environments, the consequences of their high power draw can be significantly compounded if the connected power strips become wet from flooding.

In industrial centers, you may come across sump pumps connected to heavy-duty extension cords like the SOOW cable.

SOOW is an acronym for;

Service Cord – Denoting the cable’s portability and flexibility

OO – Both the cord’s insulation and jacket are oil-resistant

W – Weatherproof, or more appropriately, water-resistant

SOOW extension cords can reliably power many heavy-duty commercial and industrial appliances. But as for sump pumps, it’s best to prioritize wall outlets.

Should you consider installing a GFCI outlet then?

A ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet is meant to guard against electric shocks upon detecting a ground fault. Ground faults occur when current flows in unintended paths.

GFCI outlets are essential for appliances used in moist areas, such as sump pumps. That said, the feature should be built into a wall outlet rather than an extension cord.

9. Treadmills

Treadmills were once restricted to high-end gyms and fitness centers. However, these machines have now pervaded many homes as more people embrace the health benefits of regular workouts.

Despite their ability to help nurture a robust workout routine, treadmills are power-hungry devices with an average wattage between 600 and 700 watts.

600 - 700 watts may appear minimal compared to the power draw of other heavy-duty appliances on this list. But it’s still high enough to damage most extension cords.

Some may argue that treadmills utilize less power since they don’t operate continuously. However, the machines still draw a lot of wattage for the few minutes they run. And when it comes to extension cords, things can go wrong in a split second.

It’s commendable that you desire to stay in shape at home. But unless you want to keep repairing your treadmill every other week, it’s best to plug the machine directly into a grounded wall socket.

Moreover, while treadmills aren’t typically used in moist places, they can benefit immensely from GFCIs. Check that the machine comes with a GFCI plug before plugging it into the nearest power outlet. If not, insist on using it with a GFCI outlet.

10. Extension Cords

Plugging an extension cord into another extension cord is a common practice called daisy-chaining.

Daisy-chaining can take on two different approaches, namely;

Plugging extension cords in a series to increase the number of appliances you can connect simultaneously

Plugging extension cords in a sequence to increase the cable’s length and extend the reach of electricity

Whichever the motivation, never plug extension cords into each other. Daisy-chaining can overheat the circuit and cause the conductors of all connected cables to melt or blow up.

Note that daisy chaining is dangerous even if it involves connecting lighter-duty appliances like the TV power cord. A safer alternative is to have your property installed with several wall outlets and then designate an outlet for each extension cord.

Another risk with daisy-chaining, especially where the intention is to extend a cable’s length, is that it can lead to a drop in voltage and an increase in resistance. This could reduce the efficiency of both the cable and the connected appliances.

Final Thoughts

There goes our rundown of the ten electrical appliances that should never be plugged into an extension cord.

Not using your extension cord with this equipment can prolong the cable's and the appliances' durability. Depending on the affected device, it also saves you from unforeseen repair and replacement costs, which could run into thousands of dollars.

Suffice it to say that we’ve used the term “NEVER” quite advisedly, as there are exceptional circumstances in which you may safely plug the above equipment into an extension cord. A case in point is if you’re using a medium-duty air conditioner with a higher-wattage cord or power strip. But even so, understand your extension cord’s maximum wattage limit before plugging any appliance into it.

Remember to observe other extension cord safety tips as well. Those include using the cord in the designated environment (indoor versus outdoor), avoiding daisy-chaining, and inspecting the cable regularly for signs of damage.