Power strips are an increasingly useful tool in the day-to-day functioning of the average American household. Especially in older homes, the availability of power outlets is not always what you’d like to see. Power strips can make that problem a thing of the past. However, there are a few “don’ts” that you should keep in mind when using power strips in your home:
- Don’t assume your power strip is a surge protector. While many power strips do offer surge protection features, this is not always the case. If you’re using a power strip with expensive appliances, it’s important to double-check before relying on it.
- Don’t daisy-chain power strips. In other words, don’t plug a power strip into another one. This can cause one or both of the power strips to overload.
- Don’t cover your power strip. It can be tempting to hide a power strip under a wall or behind window curtains, but this cuts off valuable air circulation that prevents the power strip from overheating, and a stray spark may catch the fabric on fire.
