The outlet is full, the room is cold, and a power strip looks like the easiest fix. But some of the things you should never plug into a power strip are exactly what people reach for as the weather cools, starting with the space heater. Ordinary household power strips are meant for low-current equipment such as computers and chargers, not as a workaround for space heaters or major appliances. Here are six things to keep off a power strip, plus the warning signs that mean it is time to stop using an outlet.
The short answer: plug space heaters, refrigerators, freezers, microwaves, air conditioners, coffee makers and toasters directly into a wall outlet, and never plug one power strip into another. Fire officials and university safety offices say to use strips only for a few low-current devices, and to follow each appliance’s manual.
Six things you should never plug into a power strip
1Space heaters
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says in its 2026 winter safety release: “Plug electric space heaters directly into a wall outlet, never into an extension cord or power strip.” It reports that portable heaters, including electric space heaters, are involved in an average of 1,600 fires a year, with 70 deaths and 150 injuries annually from 2020 to 2022. The Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office gives the same direct-to-wall instruction in its heating safety release and also advises against plugging other devices into the same outlet or circuit as a space heater.
Do this: plug the heater directly into a properly working wall outlet, avoid running other heavy appliances on the same circuit and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
2Refrigerators and freezers
USFA’s electrical appliance fire safety card says to always plug major appliances, including refrigerators, stoves, washers and dryers, directly into a wall outlet, and never to use an extension cord with a major appliance because it can overheat and start a fire. The University of Nebraska Medical Center’s power strip guidance says not to plug major appliances such as microwaves or refrigerators into power strips. A strip can also be switched off or knocked loose, which could leave food unprotected. That last point is our own observation.
Do this: plug refrigerators and freezers directly into a wall outlet and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. If the outlet is loose, damaged or too far away, have an electrician fix it.
3Microwaves
The UNMC guidance names microwaves alongside refrigerators as major appliances that do not belong on power strips. A University of Kansas environmental health and safety handout lists microwave ovens among the devices that power strips are not designed for.
Do this: give the microwave its own wall outlet rather than sharing a strip with other kitchen gadgets.
4Air conditioners
UNMC says heavy-draw equipment such as heaters and air conditioners does not belong on a power strip. The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services electrical fire guide says typical lamp-style extension cords cannot carry the current needed for appliances such as space heaters or air conditioners.
Do this: plug a window or portable air conditioner directly into a wall outlet, following its manual.
5Coffee makers and toasters
The University of Kansas handout lists coffee pots and toasters, along with refrigerators, space heaters and microwave ovens, as devices a power strip is not designed for. These heating appliances draw a lot of current while they run.
Do this: use a wall outlet in the kitchen, and unplug small appliances when you are not using them, as USFA advises.
6Another power strip
The University of Kansas handout says not to plug power strips into each other or piggyback them, and UNMC says interconnecting power strips, which can cause overloads and fires, is prohibited. Adding another strip does not increase the electrical capacity available. It adds connections and makes it easier to overload the first strip.
Do this: plug each strip directly into a wall outlet. For suitable low-current electronics, use one appropriately rated strip with enough outlets. If you need more capacity or outlets for appliances, consult an electrician.
What a power strip is good for
Use a power strip for a few low-current devices such as a computer, lamp or phone charger. USFA says to use strips with internal overload protection and not to overload them, and to replace worn or damaged cords right away. UNMC says strips should carry a UL certification label and that damaged or frayed strips should be removed from service.
See also
Warning signs: stop using equipment with an unusually warm plug, cord or outlet, and have it checked by a licensed electrician. The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services lists overheated plugs, cords or switches and frequently tripped breakers as reasons to call an electrician soon. For sparks, arcing, a sizzling or buzzing sound or a burning smell, call the fire department right away. Warmth alone does not prove a strip is overloaded, since loose connections and damaged wiring can also cause it.
For more safety basics, see our fire prevention tips. For protecting your home as the seasons change, our guide to ways to make your home less prone to damage is related reading.
Power strip questions, answered
Can you plug a space heater into a power strip?
No. CPSC and the Washington State Fire Marshal both say to plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet and never into an extension cord or power strip.
Can you plug a refrigerator into a power strip?
Not according to USFA and UNMC, which say major appliances such as refrigerators go directly into a wall outlet. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Is a surge protector the same as a power strip?
Not necessarily. A power strip provides extra receptacles, and a surge protector adds protection against voltage surges. Some products do both. Surge protection does not increase a product’s capacity or make an ordinary strip suitable for space heaters and major appliances.
How do I know if a strip or outlet has a problem?
An unusually warm plug, cord or outlet and frequent breaker trips are warning signs of an electrical problem, not proof that the strip alone is overloaded. Stop using it and have it checked by a licensed electrician.
The bottom line
Give heaters, refrigerators, freezers, microwaves, air conditioners, coffee makers and toasters their own wall outlets, never chain power strips and treat a warm plug as a reason to call an electrician. As the weather cools, check your outlets before you plug in the heater.
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