Don't replace outdoor extension cords on a schedule.

No. Replace them when they’re damaged, not because a certain number of months have passed.

Cords for outdoor tools fail from physical damage—cuts, cracks, crushed insulation, or UV-cracked jackets. Not from age. A cord that lives in a dry garage and gets used ten times a year can last a decade. Another that gets dragged over gravel, looped over nails, and left in the sun might need replacing every season.

The real answer: inspect your cords before every single use. Run your hand along the length. Look for nicks, exposed wire, or spots where the insulation feels hard or crumbly. Try bending the cord sharply in a few places—if you see tiny cracks, toss it. If the plug end is bent or the prongs are loose, replace it.

That’s it. No calendar. Just eyeballs and ten seconds of attention.

A damaged cord can short, trip a breaker, or start a fire. But replacing a perfectly good cord on a schedule is wasteful and pointless.