One of the most helpful accessories to have around the house is an extension cord. It gives you more flexibility as far as where to use electrical devices. If you're looking to buy some, this guide can make this transaction a smooth process.

Intended Environment 

Not all extension cords are designed to be operated in the same environments. For example, some are strictly reserved for indoor use and others can be used outside without any problems at all.

So that you don't have any performance or safety issues with your extension cords, make sure you know where they can be used. You can easily find this information by looking at the product description of the cords you're planning to buy. Somewhere, it should say where they can be used. If it doesn't, you may want to contact the manufacturer directly.

Prong Design 

There are predominantly two major options as far as the prong design of extension cords. These include two- and three-prong cords. Which one you choose will depend on the electrical devices around your home.

The best way to assess this is to go around the house looking at your electrical devices. Even if you have just several devices with a three-prong design, you'll want to get three-pronged cords. They'll still work with two-pronged electrical devices as well. If you don't have any three-pronged devices, then two-pronged extension cords are what you should buy to save on costs. 

Cord Length 

The great thing about extension cords is they come in all sorts of sizes. The longer they are, the more expensive they will be. So that you don't waste your money, you need to know exactly how long the extension cord needs to be.

This primarily depends on what the extension cord is being used for. Say you're using the extension cord to run a power drill outside. This cord would need to be longer than if you were just doing something inside. The best way to choose the right cord length is to measure the distance between the area you'll be using the electrical device and the nearest outlet. 

Extension cords come in handy for a lot of homeowners today, especially for those who need to use electrical devices that aren't battery-powered. If you need some for your property, it helps to think carefully about various details of extension cords. When you do, you can choose high-quality extension cords that work perfectly. 

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