5 Signs Your Extension Cord Needs to Be Thrown Away

The cord feels stiff or crunchy If the insulation is brittle or unusually stiff when bent, moisture has likely corroded the copper inside. Rust expands the metal, making the cable hard to flex.

You see green or white crusty powder Any powdery residue near the plugs or along the cord is copper corrosion. That means the metal is deteriorating and the cord is unsafe.

It gets warm or flickers when wiggled Plug it in and wiggle the cord near the connector. If you feel warmth or see flickering, the internal strands are breaking.

You smell burning dust or ozone Unplug it immediately and throw it away. That smell indicates overheating or arcing inside the cord.

It has been stored in a damp basement Damp environments are death sentences for extension cords. Internal corrosion is often invisible, so if it lived in moisture, replace it.