8 Household Items You Should Never Plug Into a Power Strip

Power strips are a godsend for managing multiple devices, but they’re not the answer to all your electrical needs. “As a residential electrician, I’ve run into a ton of issues caused by the wrong use of power strips and extension cords,” says Bobby Lynn of LiveWire Electrical. “It’s important to understand that these devices are not designed for high-power appliances or for devices that need stable power.”

So while power strips can handle most household gadgets, some are way too powerful and should be avoided, as this can lead to damage to your devices and even electrical fires. Here, electricians share those eight common household items you should never plug into a power strip.

Refrigerators and Freezers

Since refrigerators and freezers are constantly in use, they need way more power to operate than other devices. “Plugging them into power strips may cause the circuit to trip,” warns Daniel Mock, vice president at Mister Sparky. “It is best to have these devices plugged directly into a wall outlet.”

Lynn agrees, pointing out that this isn’t just a safety hazard, but there’s also a damage risk. “I always advise, for the sake of your appliances, that these should be plugged directly into a wall outlet,” he urges. “They consume a lot of power, and if subjected to power fluctuations, it could damage their compressors. This isn’t just bad for your appliance, it’s an added cost for you.”

Microwaves

According to Mock, most power strips cannot handle the 12 to 15 amps needed to power up a microwave. This can increase the chances of a fire and even damage your home’s electrical system.

“If your house does not have enough outlets, you can call a professional electrician who can assist with the situation and perhaps make space for a new outlet in the kitchen,” Mock suggests.

Small Kitchen Appliances 

Small countertop appliances like coffee makers and toasters appear lightweight and not heavy-duty, but they can actually be quite taxing on a power strip. “For example, with toasters, there is a network of exposed wires inside, and much power is required to fire up these wires,” Mock explains.

To boot, plugging these little machines into a power strip often leads to things like melted insulation on the cords, cautions WG Hickman, owner of Tri-County Air Service. 

Space Heaters and Air Conditioners 

These units require a lot of electricity, and power strips are not cut out for that heavy lifting. “It’s a solid no for hooking up space heaters and air conditioners to power strips due to the high risk of overheating,” says Lynn. “I’ve seen cases where power strips actually melted and, worse, ignited, because they were used with these high-demand devices. It’s a safety hazard waiting to happen.

Mock suggests that a heavy-duty, properly rated extension cord can ensure your AC functions properly to avoid overloading.

Hair Care Appliances

Hair care appliances like hair dryers pull a large amount of power very quickly, Lynn explains, so always plug them directly into wall outlets to forego the risk of electrical mishaps.

“With hair care appliances, it is best to have an electrician install a GFCI outlet to your home to avoid common bathroom hazards such as accidental water exposure,” Mock says.

Medical Devices 

Medical devices like CPAP machines are incredibly important and need a constant, stable power supply, so they should never go into a power strip.

Gaming PCs and High-End Audio Systems 

Hickman says these shouldn’t be plugged into basic power strips either. “They need protection from power surges, which a standard strip doesn’t provide,” he explains. “Use a quality surge protector like APC or Tripp Lite instead.”

Another Power Strip

According to Mock, many make the mistake of using power strips in conjunction with one another, called “daisy-chaining,” which quickly overloads the electrical system and violates fire safety codes.

He adds that in general, when using power strips, invest in one with a circuit breaker, which cuts power once demand overloads a power strip.