Electrical cord and outlet safety, room by room

About 24,200 electrical fires in homes were reported to fire departments in the United States in 2021. They caused an estimated 295 deaths, 900 injuries and more than $1.2 billion in property loss. Work through the list room by room.

Major appliances

• Plug them straight into a wall outletThat means the refrigerator, stove, washer and dryer.
• Never run one on an extension cordThe cord can overheat and start a fire.
• Stop using an appliance with a cracked, damaged or loose cord

Cords and power strips

• Keep cords out from under rugs and furnitureA pinched cord gets damaged, and frayed wires can cause fires.
• Replace worn, old or damaged extension cords right away
• Use power strips with built-in overload protectionDon't plug more into one than it's rated for.
• Unplug small appliances when you aren't using them

Extension cords

• Use one only when you need it, and only for a short time
• Match the cord's rating to what's plugged inThe cord's wattage rating should be at least as high as the tool or appliance on it.
• Throw out a cord that feels hotA hot cord or softening plastic can mean it's overloaded or its wires are failing.
• Uncoil it before use and leave it uncoveredDon't cover a cord in use with clothing or anything else.
• Use a GFCI outlet where it's dampIn a kitchen, a bathroom, outdoors or anywhere else damp, plug an extension cord only into a GFCI outlet.

Outlets, switches and lamps

• Push plugs fully into the socket
• Don't overload an outlet
• Never force a 3-prong plug into a 2-slot outlet or extension cord
• Have loose outlets replacedIf a plug doesn't fit snugly, have an electrician replace the outlet.
• Shut off a hot switch or a flickering light right awayThen have an electrician replace it.
• Match bulbs to the fixture's wattageUse the wattage the lamp or fixture lists.
• Keep anything that burns away from lamps and bulbs
• Replace a string of lights with a worn cord or loose bulbsCheck each string before you hang it.

With young children

Tamper-resistant outlets are made for a home with young children, and an electrician installs them.