Replace extension cords as soon as they feel warm.

Heat, visible cracks, or stiffness — any of these means it’s time to toss it.

A warm cord means it’s overheating from internal damage or being overloaded. Stop using it. Same thing if you see frayed insulation, exposed wire, or cuts. Even a small nick can arc or short.

Stiffness is another one. If the cord feels hard or won’t bend like it used to, the rubber or plastic is breaking down. Moisture gets in, copper corrodes, resistance goes up, and then you get heat.

Don’t mess around with a cord that’s been pinched in a door, run over by a chair, or left outside in the sun for a few seasons. The damage is often invisible until it fails.

This is not where you save ten bucks.