Why leaving extension cords plugged in permanently is riskier than you realize

The plug (a UK plug) was on an extension cord used to run a refrigerator. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

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Using an extension cord means balancing convenience and safety.

Extension cords cause thousands of fires and tens of deaths yearly.

Consider them a temporary solution.

We've all done it. The AC outlet is behind the couch or in the far corner of the room, but we need power here and now. So we grab an old extension cord, trail it across the floor, and before long, that temporary solution has become a permanent fixture.

All of a sudden, your home has a fire hazard and a trip hazard rolled into one.

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And chances are, this is not the only extension cord you have in use in your home or office.

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