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ZDNET's key takeaways
- Heavy-duty appliances overload cords, leading to dangerous overheating and fire risks.
- Appliances over 1,800 watts need a dedicated wall outlet for safety.
- Daisy-chaining extension cords is a major fire hazard and should be avoided.
While extension cords are a standard fix for reaching distant wall outlets, they aren't a universal solution for everything that plugs in. There is a critical distinction between low-power “electronics” and high-draw “appliances.”
Although items like refrigerators and toaster ovens are technically electronic, they operate on a different level in terms of amperage requirements. Because these appliances pull significantly more power to function, standard extension cords can quickly become a safety hazard rather than a simple convenience.
Why you shouldn't plug everything into an extension cord
Extension cords are manufactured with a maximum current-carrying capacity, determined by the wire gauge used in the cord. For instance, a 16-gauge extension cord can handle up to 13 amps, while a 14-gauge cord can handle up to 15 amps (or 1,800 watts), the same as a standard US wall outlet.
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When an appliance draws more power than the extension cord can handle, it causes an overload that could lead to overheating. You really don't want your cord's insulation to melt, exposing the live wires and potentially sparking a fire.
Any appliance requiring more than 1,800 watts should be on a dedicated circuit — never connected by an extension cord. And the following are seven household devices you'll definitely want to connect directly to an outlet.
1. Refrigerators
Refrigerators don't have heating elements and use less wattage than other kitchen appliances, but they still draw a lot of power because they're constantly running. While the fire risk is a bit lower with fridges, an extension cord could still cause the fridge to modulate its power and malfunction.
2. Toasters or toaster ovens
Despite their relatively small size, toasters consume significant energy and can be a fire hazard when plugged into extension cords. Toaster ovens are larger and require even more power, typically ranging from 1,200 to 1,400 watts. Keep your toast-making and small baking projects safe by opting for a wall outlet.
3. Air fryers
Air fryers are excellent for crisping leftover French fries. But that requires a lot of heat, and larger models can consume as much as 2,000 watts — this poses a considerable fire risk when plugged into even a 14-gauge cord. The same applies to power strips.
To ensure safety, it's best to place the air fryer on the countertop and plug it directly into a dedicated wall outlet during use, even if that means pulling it out of the cabinet only when needed.
4. Microwaves
A microwave is another heavy-duty appliance that should have its own dedicated circuit due to high wattage. Compact microwaves, like those you find in hotel rooms or RVs, have an average wattage of 600 to 800 watts. Standard microwaves, typically installed in homes and workplace breakrooms, use 800 to 1,000 watts.
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While the latter would often be installed amid cabinets with a dedicated circuit, some homes only offer counter space for such a hefty appliance. If that's your scenario, be sure to plug it directly into a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet in your kitchen.
5. AC units
AC units, whether portable or window-installed, use too much power for extension cords or power strips. So, be sure to attach them directly to a wall outlet as well. Before doing that, also be sure to use an online BTU (British Thermal Unit) calculator to determine the type you will need to cool your space effectively.
Cooling a typical bedroom — about 150 square feet — requires a unit capable of using 6,500 BTU or 1,905 watts. This amount of draw is far too high for an extension cord to handle and could result in a fire.
6. Space heaters
As nice as it is to be able to quickly turn an electric space heater on and off, it's considered one of the riskier household appliances for causing a fire. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), portable space heaters are involved in an average of 1,700 fires per year in the United States, with some of those resulting from extension cord use.
That's because they typically produce around 5,120 BTUs per hour, easily strong enough to melt an extension cord plug.
7. Extension cords
We've all done it: connecting one extension cord to another in an attempt to daisy-chain a device to a power outlet. This is a major no-no in the land of electricity distribution. It could lead to a circuit overheating, which then causes the cord to overheat and start burning. Although a cord isn't technically an appliance, it's important to know there's an inherent danger in connecting one to another.
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The bottom line is that extension cords shouldn't be used for any mechanism that draws more than 15 amps (1,800 watts), regardless of what it's used for or where the device is situated.
