Warm extension cords are a red flag.

If your extension cord feels hot to the touch, you’ve got a problem. Not “kind of warm from sitting in the sun” – I mean hot. Specifically, if you can’t comfortably hold it for more than a few seconds, that’s too hot.

Other obvious signs: discolored plug prongs, a faint burning smell, melted insulation, or flickering lights at the end of the cord. If you see or smell any of that, stop using it immediately. You’re flirting with a fire.

Prevention is boring but simple. Use the right gauge for the load – 14 AWG or thicker (lower number) for high-wattage stuff like space heaters, window ACs, or power tools. Never daisy-chain two cords together. Never run a cord under a rug or through a doorway where it can get pinched. And don’t coil up the slack while the cord is in use – that trapped heat is a secret fire starter.

If you keep blowing the breaker or the cord gets warm, you need a thicker cord or a shorter run. This is not the area to cheap out.

Your walls will thank you.