The post 8 Things You Should Never Plug Into a Power Strip first appeared on Crafting Your Home.
That power strip tucked behind your furniture or sitting on your kitchen counter might be doing more than keeping your appliances connected. It could also be creating an electrical hazard without you realizing it.
Most homes have more appliances than conveniently located electrical outlets. Power strips seem like an easy solution, especially when you need to power several devices at once. But here’s something many homeowners overlook: Having extra outlets doesn’t mean having extra electrical capacity.
According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, electrical distribution and lighting equipment were involved in an estimated annual average of 31,647 home fires between 2011 and 2023.
Those figures cover electrical distribution and lighting equipment generally, not power strips alone. Still, they highlight why everyday electrical habits deserve attention.
Before plugging in another appliance, take a look at these eight things that are better kept away from your power strip.
Space Heaters
A portable space heater might look harmless beside your couch, but it should never share a power strip with other devices.
Space heaters use substantial electrical power to generate heat. Connecting one to a power strip or extension cord increases the risk of overheating, potentially leading to a fire.
The Electrical Safety Foundation International advises homeowners to plug portable electric heaters directly into wall outlets rather than power strips or extension cords.
The safer choice: Plug your space heater directly into a wall outlet and avoid plugging another appliance into the same receptacle.
Microwave Ovens
Microwaves are convenient, especially when you’re reheating leftovers or preparing a quick meal. But their electrical demands make them a poor fit for a standard power strip.
A microwave can draw considerable power during operation. Adding it to a strip already powering other kitchen appliances can create unnecessary strain.
According to UL Solutions, the number of sockets on a power strip doesn’t determine how many appliances it can safely support.
The safer choice: Connect your microwave directly to an appropriately rated wall receptacle and follow the manufacturer’s electrical instructions.
Refrigerators and Freezers
You probably don’t think much about your refrigerator until something goes wrong.
Unlike a toaster or microwave, which operates for a relatively short period, a refrigerator or freezer repeatedly cycles on and off throughout the day. That makes choosing an appropriate electrical connection especially important.
A power strip should not permanently replace a properly located outlet.
If your refrigerator cord doesn’t reach the wall receptacle, don’t add a power strip to solve the problem.
The safer choice: Plug the appliance directly into an appropriately rated wall receptacle, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Air Fryers
Air fryers have become convenient kitchen companions, but their compact appearance can be misleading when it comes to electricity.
These appliances rely on powerful heating elements to cook food. That means their electrical demands deserve the same consideration as those of other heat-producing kitchen appliances.
Imagine plugging an air fryer into a power strip already connected to a coffee maker and toaster. The outlets might all fit the plugs, but that doesn’t mean the combined electrical load is appropriate.
The safer choice: Plug your air fryer directly into a properly rated kitchen wall outlet, and avoid running multiple high-demand appliances on the same circuit at the same time.
Toasters and Toaster Ovens
Making toast may seem like one of the simplest kitchen tasks, but the appliance doing the work can draw considerable electrical power.
Toasters and toaster ovens generate heat using electrical elements. Although they may be small enough to fit almost anywhere on your counter, their size doesn’t necessarily reflect how much electricity they consume.
UL Solutions identifies toasters among heating appliances that can place substantial demands on power strips.
The concern grows when several heating appliances run together.
The safer choice: Plug your toaster or toaster oven directly into a wall receptacle rather than sharing a power strip with other kitchen equipment.
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Coffee Makers and Electric Kettles
Your morning coffee routine may draw more electricity than you realize.
Coffee makers and electric kettles both use heating components. When connected alongside other high-demand appliances, their combined load can exceed what a power strip is designed to handle.
It’s easy to see how this happens. A crowded kitchen counter may have limited wall outlets, making one power strip seem like the most convenient answer.
But convenience shouldn’t replace checking electrical ratings and following appliance instructions.
The safer choice: Use an appropriate wall receptacle and avoid operating several heat-producing appliances on the same outlet simultaneously.
Hair Dryers and Curling Irons
Getting ready in the morning often means using multiple electrical styling tools near the bathroom mirror.
Hair dryers, in particular, can draw substantial electrical current. UL Solutions identifies them among devices whose power requirements deserve special attention.
Bathrooms also have additional electrical safety considerations because appropriate ground-fault circuit interrupter protection is important.
Rather than using a power strip to connect all your styling equipment, consider whether the available wall receptacles can safely accommodate the appliances you’re using.
The safer choice: Plug styling tools into a properly installed, GFCI-protected wall receptacle and follow their electrical instructions.
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Another Power Strip or Extension Cord
This might be the most overlooked mistake on the entire list.
When one power strip doesn’t provide enough outlets, connecting another one can seem like an easy fix. Some homeowners also connect a strip to an extension cord to reach a distant wall outlet.
This practice, commonly known as daisy-chaining, can increase the risk of overloading and overheating.
The bigger issue is that adding more connection points doesn’t increase the electrical capacity of the circuit supplying them.
The safer choice: Plug a properly rated power strip directly into a wall receptacle. If a room consistently needs more outlets, consider having a qualified electrician install additional receptacles.
How to Tell if Your Power Strip Is Overloaded
Not every electrical problem comes with an obvious warning, but certain signs deserve immediate attention.
An unusually warm outlet, a burning smell, discoloration around a receptacle, buzzing sounds, or a breaker that repeatedly trips can indicate an electrical problem.
Don’t simply reconnect the same appliances and hope the issue disappears. Stop using the affected equipment and seek help from a qualified electrical professional when necessary.
Remember that surge protection and electrical capacity are different. A surge protecto