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Whether you live in a house, apartment, mobile home, or dorm room, having enough electrical outlets for all your devices can be a real challenge. This is where power strips can come in handy as a temporary solution.
However, many of us don’t realize that not all devices are safe to plug into a power strip, and doing so can lead to overheating, electrical fires, or damage to our appliances. To help keep you and your home safe, here’s a list of 13 things you should never plug into your power strip.
High-Powered Appliances
High-powered appliances like refrigerators, microwaves, and space heaters require a lot of electricity. These devices should always be plugged directly into a wall outlet to handle their significant electrical load safely. Overloading a power strip with such appliances can cause it to overheat, leading to potential fire hazards.
Large Power Tools
If you’re tackling a DIY project, resist the urge to plug large power tools like table saws, drills, or grinders into a power strip. These tools draw substantial power and can easily exceed the strip’s capacity, creating a serious risk of overheating and fires. Instead, use a dedicated wall outlet that can support their power needs.
Televisions
While it may be common to plug televisions into power strips, it’s not advisable. Directly connecting your TV to a wall outlet helps ensure a stable power supply and reduces the risk of damage from power surges. Since you’ll want to protect these sensitive devices from power surges, go with a power strip that functions as a surge protector.
Sump Pumps
Sump pumps play a critical role in keeping your basement dry when flooding threatens your home. But of course, a sump pump cannot do its job if the power strip it is plugged into gets wet while your basement takes on water. Instead, plug your sump pump into a proper GFCI outlet that is placed on a wall well above the expected flood level.
Another Power Strip
Power strips do not play well together. While it might seem smart to plug one power strip into another as a way of multiplying the number of outlets available, it’s really dangerous and violates every fire safety code out there. As an alternative, purchase a purpose-built extension cord to meet your long-distance power distribution needs.
Blender
The size of an appliance doesn’t determine if it’s safe to plug it into a power strip. Certain blenders, like those manufactured by Vitamix and Blendtec, rely on powerful motors to process tougher foods, using as much as 1,500 watts of power. That’s on par with your space heaters, toasters, and air conditioners. Safety experts dictate to always plug a blender directly into a kitchen GFCI outlet and never into a power strip.
Fish Tank Equipment
Aquarium owners know that maintaining a healthy environment for fish is crucial. However, fish tank equipment like heaters and filters should be plugged directly into a wall outlet. A power strip could fail, jeopardizing the health of your aquatic pets. You should protect your aquarium setup by ensuring all equipment is safely connected to a wall outlet.
Electric Blankets
Electric blankets can provide you with warmth on chilly nights, but they should always be plugged directly into a wall outlet. Running them through a power strip can lead to overheating and increase the risk of fire. For your safety and comfort, make sure your electric blanket has a dedicated power source.
Instant Pot and Slow Cookers
Kitchen appliances like Instant Pots and slow cookers are designed for long cooking times and can draw substantial power. Plugging them into a power strip risks overheating the strip. For safety and efficiency, connect these appliances directly to a wall outlet.
Related: 11 Kitchen Tools That Will Last A Lifetime
Security Systems
Your home security system is vital for keeping your family safe. Plugging it into a power strip can introduce vulnerabilities, especially if the strip fails. For reliable operation, connect your security system directly to a wall outlet to ensure it remains powered at all times.
Servers and Network Equipment
If you have a home server or other network equipment, it’s best to plug these devices directly into a wall outlet. Power strips can sometimes fail or cause power fluctuations that may damage sensitive electronics. For the reliability and safety of your network, use dedicated outlets for key equipment.
Hairstyling Tools
This might surprise some folks. Hairstyling tools such as flat irons, curling irons, and hair dryers actually require much power to get as hot as they get. This is why you need to have them plugged into a wall outlet.
Air Compressors
Air compressors are helpful around the house if you are an ambitious DIYer. However, they can draw a huge amount of energy to turn on. Instead of overloading your power strip, use a heavy-duty extension cord to get the best use of your air compressor.
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Tamara White is the creator and founder of The Thrifty Apartment, a home decor and DIY blog that focuses on affordable and budget-friendly home decorating ideas and projects. Tamara documents her home improvement journey, love of thrifting, tips for space optimization, and creating beautiful spaces.
