According to electricians, installing a power strip in the house is dangerous and should never be done
It is uncommon for a home to have at least one power strip in each room. And like square meters, there usually aren’t many left. However, we often use this very practical accessory without realizing that it carries certain risks that could easily be avoided if we knew about them.
I do not mean to start a panic, but a poorly used power strip can start a fire. In fact, an average of 47 home fires occur every day in some countries, mainly due to the improper use of plugs and power outlets. In addition to fires, experts warn that plugging multiple devices into a single outlet can cause overloading, which in turn can lead to short circuits and electrical problems, with serious risks such as seizures, severe nerve damage, and even death in extreme cases.
The first tip is to always read the user manual for your power strip and any device you want to plug into it, as it is best to plug devices that consume more electricity directly into the wall. However, where you place your power strip is also very important. It should always be kept away from flammable or combustible items, such as carpets or curtains. The movement of electricity can create a spark that can ignite these materials, causing a serious accident.
On the other hand, to prevent accidents, power outlets should also be kept away from any source of water. Some good examples of places to avoid are: the sink, the tub, or the shower. This may seem obvious, but there is another place we should not put any of these power strips, and you may have never thought about it before, and that is we should not put them near windows.
This is related to what we were saying about water because the reason is that windows are often left open and if it rains, water can get on the power strip. This can cause an electrical short circuit, which in turn can start a fire. In addition to everything already mentioned, to use power strips safely, electricians also recommend unplugging them when not in use.
Another aspect is that you should never, under any circumstances, connect a power strip to another power strip, as well as a long list of electrical appliances. As we mentioned before, they all have in common that they consume a lot of energy: the refrigerator, the vacuum cleaner, the microwave, the coffee maker, the kettle, the hair dryer, the oven, the air conditioner, the dishwasher, the washing machine, the dryer, the refrigerator, the freezer and even the iron.