Overview
- Recent guidance highlights portable electric heaters as a particular risk and says they must be plugged directly into wall sockets, not extensions.
- An electrical firm described a Newcastle office case where a heater on a daisy‑chained, coiled reel extension overheated the socket, melted it and “technically” caught fire.
- Energy specialists also flag microwaves, fridge‑freezers and washing machines as unsuitable for extension leads, with further cautions for kettles, toasters, dishwashers, tumble dryers and air fryers.
- Experts warn that daisy‑chaining extensions, using cheap or underspecified leads and leaving cable reels coiled markedly increases overheating and fire risk.
- Consumers are urged to treat extension leads as temporary, check appliance current ratings, fully unwind cable reels and consider having a qualified electrician install extra sockets for long‑term needs.