Electricians and safety specialists said on April 12 that certain household appliances should not be plugged into power strips due to the risk of overheating, short circuits, or even fires. The warning highlights that many people use power strips at home to connect several devices at once, but improper use can lead to significant hazards.
This issue is important because most standard power strips are not designed to handle sustained high electrical loads. If their capacity is exceeded, they may overheat or cause cables to melt, which can result in dangerous situations including house fires.
According to experts, appliances such as microwaves, electric ovens, coffee makers, electric kettles, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, portable air conditioners, electric heaters and radiators, irons and hair dryers should never be connected to a regular power strip. These devices consume large amounts of energy or generate heat—both factors that increase the risk when used with common extension outlets.
In contrast, it is considered safe to use power strips for low-consumption items like phone chargers, laptops or notebooks, small speakers and LED lights—as long as the equipment is in good condition. Specialists also recommend avoiding daisy-chaining multiple extension cords together and checking cables regularly for damage. Power strips should not be covered or placed near sources of heat.
For powerful home appliances that require more electricity than a typical device or generate significant heat during operation—such as those listed above—the advice remains clear: plug them directly into a wall outlet rather than using a power strip. This approach reduces risks and helps ensure safer energy usage at home.
