{"id":8421,"date":"2026-09-15T17:55:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T21:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/groupequenneville.com\/?p=8421"},"modified":"2026-08-03T21:30:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T01:30:39","slug":"extension-cord-power-bar-dangers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/groupequenneville.com\/en\/extension-cord-power-bar-dangers\/","title":{"rendered":"Extension Cords and Power Bars: The Mistakes That Start Fires"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"gqp\"><style>.gqp{--forest:#1F3D2B;--sage:#6B9A5B;--sage-soft:#E8F0E4;--paper:#F1F1EF;--ink:#1d1d1f;--muted:#6e6e73;--line:#e3e3e0;--heat:#C2562F;--heat-soft:#FBE8E0;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,\"SF Pro Display\",\"Helvetica Neue\",Arial,sans-serif;color:var(--ink);background:#fff;color-scheme:light;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;line-height:1.5}.gqp *{box-sizing:border-box}.gqp .wrap{max-width:1080px;margin:0 auto;padding:0 24px}.gqp .narrow{max-width:720px;margin:0 auto}.gqp 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.foot{padding:36px 0;text-align:center;color:var(--muted);font-size:14px;border-top:1px solid var(--line)}.gqp .src{font-size:12.5px;color:#9a9a9a;max-width:760px;margin:14px auto 0}.gqp ul.clean{margin:16px 0 0;padding:0;list-style:none}.gqp ul.clean li{font-size:16.5px;padding:9px 0 9px 30px;position:relative;border-top:1px solid var(--line)}.gqp ul.clean li:before{content:\"\u2713\";position:absolute;left:2px;color:var(--sage);font-weight:800}.gqp ul.warn li:before{content:\"!\";color:var(--heat)}.gqp .note{background:var(--sage-soft);border-radius:16px;padding:20px 22px;margin-top:24px;font-size:16.5px;color:#2c2c2e}.gqp .note b{color:var(--forest)}.gqp .note.hot{background:var(--heat-soft)}.gqp .note.hot b{color:var(--heat)}@media(max-width:760px){.gqp .grid-2,.gqp .grid-3,.gqp .stats,.gqp .price{grid-template-columns:1fr}.gqp .section{padding:58px 0}}<\/style><header class=\"hero\"><div class=\"wrap\"><div class=\"badge\"><span class=\"dot\"><\/span>Residential \u00b7 Commercial \u00b7 Industrial \u2014 Montreal, Laval &amp; North Shore<\/div>\n<p class=\"lead\">Behind the TV, under the desk, next to the tree: extension cords are everywhere. Handy, but among the top preventable causes of fire. The good news: almost everything comes down to a few mistakes that are easy to avoid.<\/p>\n<div class=\"cta-row\"><a class=\"btn btn-p\" href=\"#soumission\">Have an outlet added \u2192<\/a><a class=\"btn btn-g\" href=\"tel:5145031353\">514-503-1353<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/header>\n\n<section class=\"section\"><div class=\"wrap narrow\"><span class=\"kicker\">The context<\/span><h2 style=\"margin:14px 0 18px\">The handiest electrical item\u2026 and the most misused<\/h2>\n<p>Behind the TV, under the desk, beside the tree: extension cords and power bars are everywhere. Handy, yes \u2014 but they also top the list of preventable house-fire causes. The good news: <strong>almost every accident comes from a few specific mistakes<\/strong>, easy to avoid once you know them. And often, a &#8220;permanent&#8221; extension cord hides a real gap: you&#8217;re missing an outlet.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<section class=\"section band\"><div class=\"wrap\"><div class=\"narrow center\"><span class=\"kicker\">Absolutely avoid<\/span><h2 style=\"margin:14px 0 10px\">The 5 classic mistakes<\/h2>\n<p class=\"lead\">Each is a common shortcut \u2014 and each can heat a wire to the breaking point.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-2\">\n<div class=\"card\"><h3>Plugging one bar into another<\/h3><p>The &#8220;daisy-chain&#8221; of power bars (one into another) piles loads onto a single point and defeats the protections. Don&#8217;t.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"card\"><h3>A heating appliance on a cord<\/h3><p>Space heater, air conditioner, microwave, kettle: <strong>never<\/strong> on an extension cord or bar. They draw too much current continuously \u2014 the #1 fire scenario.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"card\"><h3>A crushed or hidden cord<\/h3><p>Under a rug, behind heavy furniture, caught in a door: the wire heats without being able to cool, and the insulation eventually fails.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"card\"><h3>The &#8220;permanent&#8221; extension cord<\/h3><p>An extension cord is a <em>temporary<\/em> fix, not an installation. Left in place, it ages, you forget it, and risk builds up.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"note hot\" style=\"margin-top:24px\"><b>The worst combination:<\/b> a space heater plugged into a thin extension cord, itself in a cheap power bar, hidden behind furniture. Every winter, this exact setup burns down homes in Quebec.<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<section class=\"section\"><div class=\"wrap narrow\"><span class=\"kicker\">The golden rule<\/span><h2 style=\"margin:14px 0 18px\">An extension cord is temporary \u2014 period<\/h2>\n<p>If you use an extension cord or bar <strong>permanently<\/strong> in the same spot, it&#8217;s not an extension-cord problem: <strong>you&#8217;re missing an outlet<\/strong>. That&#8217;s the real message. Adding an outlet where you need it is simple, affordable, and eliminates the risk in one shot \u2014 plus it makes the unsightly trailing cord disappear. We cover it in our guide <a href=\"https:\/\/groupequenneville.com\/en\/not-enough-outlets-what-to-do\/\">&#8220;Not enough outlets: what to do.&#8221;<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<section class=\"section\"><div class=\"wrap narrow\"><span class=\"kicker\">Proper use<\/span><h2 style=\"margin:14px 0 18px\">What can go on an extension cord \u2014 and what can&#8217;t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"grid-2\" style=\"margin-top:8px\">\n<div class=\"card\"><h3>\u2714 Fine (low load)<\/h3><p>Lamp, phone or laptop charger, TV, console, internet box, small fan, LED decorations. Devices that draw little and intermittently.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"card\"><h3>\u2718 Never (high load)<\/h3><p>Space heater, air conditioner, microwave, fridge, freezer, dryer, cooktop, heavy tools. Anything that <strong>heats<\/strong> or has a <strong>big motor<\/strong> needs a wall outlet \u2014 ideally a dedicated circuit.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"note\"><b>The gauge cue:<\/b> a thin &#8220;lamp&#8221; extension cord isn&#8217;t made for a powerful appliance. The bigger the load, the thicker the wire must be (lower gauge). When in doubt, don&#8217;t extend \u2014 move the appliance closer to an outlet or have one installed.<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<section class=\"section band-green\"><div class=\"wrap\"><div class=\"narrow center\"><span class=\"kicker\">Warning signs<\/span><h2 style=\"margin:14px 0 14px\">When to unplug immediately<\/h2>\n<p>An extension cord or bar should never show these signs. If they appear, unplug and discard it.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"narrow\" style=\"margin-top:8px\"><ul class=\"clean warn\">\n<li>The cord, plug or bar is <strong>hot to the touch<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>A <strong>hot-plastic smell<\/strong> or <strong>burn marks \/ discoloration<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>The plug <strong>no longer holds<\/strong> in the outlet, or sparks when connected.<\/li>\n<li>The wire is <strong>cracked, bare or taped-up<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>The bar <strong>crackles<\/strong> or its light blinks abnormally.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n<section class=\"section\"><div class=\"wrap narrow\"><span class=\"kicker\">Choose well<\/span><h2 style=\"margin:14px 0 18px\">Not all power bars are equal<\/h2>\n<p>If you must use a bar (temporarily), choose it well:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"clean\" style=\"margin-top:16px\">\n<li>A <strong>built-in breaker<\/strong> (reset button) that cuts out on overload.<\/li>\n<li>A recognized certification: <strong>cUL, CSA or ULC<\/strong> \u2014 a safety guarantee, not a detail.<\/li>\n<li>For sensitive electronics (TV, computer), a <strong>surge-protector<\/strong> bar, not a plain power strip. They&#8217;re two different things.<\/li>\n<li>A <strong>rating suited<\/strong> to what you plug in, and never beyond its stated capacity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"note\"><b>Good to know:<\/b> a surge-protector bar shields your devices from voltage spikes, but it has a lifespan. For whole-home protection (against lightning and Hydro surges), a surge protector installed at the panel is far more robust \u2014 a topic we&#8217;re glad to discuss in a quote.<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"section band-green\"><div class=\"wrap\"><div class=\"narrow center\"><span class=\"kicker\">Why Groupe Quenneville<\/span><h2 style=\"margin:14px 0 14px\">Tired of extension cords? We install the outlet you need<\/h2>\n<p>A CMEQ-certified company holding an RBQ licence, serving Greater Montreal, <a href=\"https:\/\/groupequenneville.com\/en\/electrician-laval\/\">Laval<\/a>, the North Shore, the Laurentians and Lanaudi\u00e8re. We replace the trailing cord with a real outlet, in the right spot and to Code \u2014 safe and discreet.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"stats\"><div class=\"stat\"><div class=\"stars\">\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/div><div class=\"cap\">4.9 \/ 5 \u2014 249+ Google reviews<\/div><\/div><div class=\"stat\"><div class=\"big\">CMEQ<span style=\"font-size:19px\"> \u00b7 RBQ<\/span><\/div><div class=\"cap\">Certified company<\/div><\/div><div class=\"stat\"><div class=\"big\">5-yr<\/div><div class=\"cap\">Warranty \u00b7 $5M insurance<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"final\" id=\"soumission\"><div class=\"wrap\"><span class=\"kicker\" style=\"color:#9Fc48c\">Take action<\/span><h2 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px\">An extension cord plugged in permanently?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"lead\">It means an outlet is missing. We install one cleanly, right where you need it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"cta-row\" style=\"margin-top:30px\"><a class=\"btn btn-p\" style=\"background:#fff;color:#1F3D2B\" href=\"tel:5145031353\">\ud83d\udcde Call an electrician<\/a><a class=\"btn btn-g\" style=\"background:transparent;color:#fff;border-color:#fff\" href=\"#form\">Request a quote<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"contact\"><a href=\"tel:5145031353\">\u260e 514-503-1353<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/groupequenneville.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\ud83c\udf10 groupequenneville.com<\/a><\/div>\n<div id=\"form\"><div class=\"ghl\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/api.leadconnectorhq.com\/widget\/form\/eis7Ed6eoyBgcKjuLdtw\" style=\"width:100%;border:none;min-height:780px;border-radius:12px\" id=\"inline-eis7Ed6eoyBgcKjuLdtw\" data-layout=\"{'id':'inline'}\" data-trigger-type=\"alwaysShow\" data-form-name=\"Form\" data-height=\"780\" data-layout-iframe-id=\"inline-eis7Ed6eoyBgcKjuLdtw\" data-form-id=\"eis7Ed6eoyBgcKjuLdtw\" title=\"Form\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"section\"><div class=\"wrap narrow\"><div class=\"center\"><span class=\"kicker\">Frequently asked questions<\/span><h2 style=\"margin:14px 0 26px\">What people ask us<\/h2><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq\"><details open><summary>Can you plug a power bar into another power bar?<span>+<\/span><\/summary><p>No. Chaining power bars (plugging one into another) piles loads onto a single connection point and bypasses the protections. It&#8217;s a common cause of overheating. Each bar should plug directly into a wall outlet, and you should avoid overloading it.<\/p><\/details>\n<details><summary>Can I plug a space heater into an extension cord?<span>+<\/span><\/summary><p>Never. A space heater draws a lot of current continuously, which heats an extension cord or bar beyond its capacity. It&#8217;s one of the main fire causes in winter. A space heater must plug directly into a wall outlet, ideally on a circuit that isn&#8217;t already loaded.<\/p><\/details>\n<details><summary>Why does an extension cord become dangerous over time?<span>+<\/span><\/summary><p>Because you forget it. An extension cord is meant for temporary use; left in place, it wears, gets crushed under furniture or a rug, heats without cooling, and its insulation eventually cracks. If you need it permanently, an outlet is missing at that spot.<\/p><\/details>\n<details><summary>What&#8217;s the difference between a power bar and a surge protector?<span>+<\/span><\/summary><p>A power bar just multiplies outlets. A surge protector, in addition, absorbs voltage spikes to shield sensitive electronics like the TV or computer. For whole-home protection against lightning and Hydro surges, a surge protector installed at the panel is the most reliable solution.<\/p><\/details>\n<details><summary>Which devices can I safely plug into an extension cord?<span>+<\/span><\/summary><p>Low-consumption devices: lamp, charger, TV, console, router, small fan, LED decorations. Avoid anything that heats or has a big motor: space heater, air conditioner, microwave, fridge, dryer, heavy tools. Those require a wall outlet, often on a dedicated circuit.<\/p><\/details>\n<details><summary>How do I know if my cord or bar is overloaded?<span>+<\/span><\/summary><p>It heats up, gives off a hot-plastic smell, shows burn marks, crackles, or its built-in breaker trips. The plug may also no longer hold in the outlet. In all these cases, unplug immediately and replace the item \u2014 don&#8217;t repair it with tape.<\/p><\/details>\n<details><summary>Can a power bar really cause a fire?<span>+<\/span><\/summary><p>Yes, especially a low-end bar that&#8217;s overloaded, chained to another or hidden behind furniture. The built-up heat can ignite surrounding dust and materials. Choose bars certified cUL, CSA or ULC, with a built-in breaker, and never exceed their capacity.<\/p><\/details>\n<details><summary>I need an extension cord permanently \u2014 what&#8217;s the solution?<span>+<\/span><\/summary><p>Have an outlet installed where you need it. It&#8217;s simple, affordable and eliminates the risk in one shot, plus it removes the trailing cord. At Groupe Quenneville, adding an outlet is done in one visit: a regular service call is $150 travel plus $140\/hr (1 hr minimum).<\/p><\/details><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<footer class=\"foot\"><div class=\"wrap\"><p>Groupe Quenneville \u2014 Residential \u00b7 Commercial \u00b7 Industrial \u00b7 Montreal, Laval &amp; North Shore<br>514-503-1353 \u00b7 groupequenneville.com<\/p>\n<p class=\"src\">Sources : <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cmeq.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">CMEQ<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbq.gouv.qc.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">RBQ<\/a> \u00b7 Quebec Construction Code, Chapter V \u2014 Electricity.<\/p><\/div><\/footer>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Can you plug a power bar into another power bar?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No. Chaining power bars (plugging one into another) piles loads onto a single connection point and bypasses the protections. 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Those require a wall outlet, often on a dedicated circuit.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How do I know if my cord or bar is overloaded?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"It heats up, gives off a hot-plastic smell, shows burn marks, crackles, or its built-in breaker trips. The plug may also no longer hold in the outlet. In all these cases, unplug immediately and replace the item \u2014 don't repair it with tape.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Can a power bar really cause a fire?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes, especially a low-end bar that's overloaded, chained to another or hidden behind furniture. The built-up heat can ignite surrounding dust and materials. Choose bars certified cUL, CSA or ULC, with a built-in breaker, and never exceed their capacity.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"I need an extension cord permanently \u2014 what's the solution?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Have an outlet installed where you need it. It's simple, affordable and eliminates the risk in one shot, plus it removes the trailing cord. At Groupe Quenneville, adding an outlet is done in one visit: a regular service call is $150 travel plus $140\/hr (1 hr minimum).\"}}]}<\/script><script src=\"https:\/\/link.msgsndr.com\/js\/form_embed.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Extension cords and power bars: the 5 mistakes that cause fires, what you can (and can&#8217;t) plug in, and how to choose well. The safety guide from our electricians.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":8713,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[89],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8421","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-safety"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Extension Cord &amp; Power Bar: Dangerous Mistakes to Avoid<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Extension cords and power bars: the 5 mistakes that cause fires, what you can (and can&#039;t) plug in, and how to choose well. 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