This is a photo of a scenario that is not uncommon to find, especially in vacation homes. At this home a permanent appliance, that requires power, has been purchased and is located at the other side of the door. The problem is, there is not an outlet on that side of the door. So, the homeowner has purchased a really long extension cord and run it up the wall and over the door. That is kind of like taking a lesson from some of the wiring jobs I have seen the phone company come up with. The problem is, with AC, that is not a good arrangement. Extension cords are not designed for permanent use. This is the easy way to get the appliance up and working, and it might be okay for a few days. But, longterm, a real outlet needs to be installed on the other side of the door, over by the appliance so the device's own cord will reach the outlet.
7 Comments on Sudden Valley Home Inspection (King of the House): Unsafe Extension Cords
Steve, these cords also lead to the question of why isn't there a receptacle on the other side of the door. Depending, of course, on the age of the home, requirements for receptacles at specific locations on walls have been around for a long time. Sometimes receptacles missing at required locations is an indication of less than professional wiring of the home---work done without permits.
Steven - I have a few extension cords in my home. They're for lamps. Is that a bad thing, too? Or is permanent use of extension cords just taboo for appliances?
Sounds like everyone has a similar problem, at an outlet or two, in their houses. I must admit that, at my house, there is an extension cord on a lamp. It is located between two convenient outlets, but that central location is where the wife wants it. It is a short run, the cord is feeding only the lamp and it is not going under rugs or though walls. If you must run an extension cord make sure you get a cord that is adequate for the purpose. Appliances would usually require a heavy duty cord and those top out at at about 15 amps capacity. Even the outdoor extension cords that look heavy duty are typically really long but relatively light gauge wire. When a device is drawing too much current, for the gauge and length of the wire, heat is the byproduct. Years back I had to run a small portable electric heater to an outbuilding on a long outdoor extension cord. The cord got about as hot as the heater. Had a similar problem with a table saw and put in a dedicated outlet. If a motor is not getting adequate power, it can lead to burning it up. Obviously, the best thing, longterm, is to get an outlet or outlets put in for a refer or some appliance like that, but if you must use an extension cord for an appliance, try to make it temporary and make sure you get a cord of sufficient capacity for the device. Then keep it absolutely as short as is possible -- 3 ft is better than 10ft -- and keep it out from under rugs, going through walls and that sort of thing. Very important: Do not put in an extender, so you can run many appliances from it. Keep it dedicated to the one thing you bought it for. That would be my practical advice, although the safest approach is to have an adequate number of outlets for permanent appliances. I have inspected homes with cords running everywhere, and it is not a pretty sight.
Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector Bellingham, WA More about me…
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This is a photo of a scenario that is not uncommon to find, especially in vacation homes. At this home a permanent appliance, that requires power, has been purchased and is located at the other side of the door. The problem is, there is not an outlet on that side of the door. So, the homeowner has purchased a really long extension cord and run it up the wall and over the door. That is kind of like taking a lesson from some of the wiring jobs I have seen the phone company come up with. The problem is, with AC, that is not a good arrangement. Extension cords are not designed for permanent use. This is the easy way to get the appliance up and working, and it might be okay for a few days. But, longterm, a real outlet needs to be installed on the other side of the door, over by the appliance so the device's own cord will reach the outlet.
Steve, these cords also lead to the question of why isn't there a receptacle on the other side of the door. Depending, of course, on the age of the home, requirements for receptacles at specific locations on walls have been around for a long time. Sometimes receptacles missing at required locations is an indication of less than professional wiring of the home---work done without permits.