An electrical expert has warned that three common household appliances should never be plugged into extension leads due to the severe risk of fire. Charanjit Mannu, Director at Elec Training, explained that many domestic fires occur each year because people connect high-powered devices to extension leads that cannot safely handle the load.
“The statistics are alarming. We attend numerous callouts where extension leads have caused fires simply because people don’t understand which appliances are too powerful for them,” he said. According to Mannu, kettles, heaters, and toasters top the list of devices that should always be plugged directly into a wall socket.
“These three items draw massive amounts of current, far more than most extension leads can safely handle. A typical kettle uses around 3,000 watts, electric heaters can use 3,000 watts or more, and toasters typically use between 800 and 1,500 watts,” he explained.
The Wolverhampton-based expert added that using these high-powered devices on extension leads can cause the leads to overheat rapidly.
“When extension leads overheat, the plastic casing can melt and ignite surrounding materials. Many people make things worse by coiling extension leads while in use, which concentrates the heat in one area,” Mannu said.
The risk rises significantly when multiple high-powered appliances are plugged into the same lead. “I’ve seen cases where people had a kettle, microwave, and toaster all connected to a single extension lead in their kitchen.
This creates an extreme fire hazard, as the combined wattage far exceeds what any domestic extension lead can safely handle,” he added.
Mannu also warned about the dangers of cheap, unbranded extension leads. “Always check that any extension lead you buy has proper safety markings and fuses.
The cheap unmarked ones from online marketplaces often lack basic safety features and can be extremely dangerous,” he said.
Data from the London Fire Brigade shows that overloaded sockets are one of the most common causes of electrical fires. The service advises using fused, inline-type extension leads instead of cube adaptors and always fully unwinding drum-style leads during use to prevent overheating.
“Many people don’t realise that the type of extension lead matters enormously. Cube-type multi-adaptors are particularly risky as they have no overload protection,” Mannu noted.
He stressed that extension leads should only ever be a temporary solution.
“If you find yourself regularly using extension leads, that’s a sign you need more sockets installed by a qualified electrician. This is always safer than relying on extension leads long-term,” he said.
The Elec Training director concluded by urging homeowners to inspect their leads regularly for damage or wear. “Frayed cables, burn marks, or loose connections are all warning signs. Never try fixing damaged extension leads with electrical tape, always replace them immediately,” Mannu added.
This warning comes as fire services across the UK report an increase in electrical fires caused by overloaded and misused extension leads, particularly during the colder months when more heating appliances are in use.