Warning issued as people told to 'stop' using extension leads in one room

Property owners are being warned to consider where they're positioning extension leads throughout their homesas specialists have cautioned they could present a "serious" fire risk.

Numerous gadgets get plugged into our kitchenoutlets, including coffee makers, air fryers, kettles and cookers to mention just a few. Occasionally there aren't sufficient wall sockets to supply power to all our devices, forcing us to rely on an extension lead sometimes.

James Harrison, electrician at Fusion Electrical, explained: "Small kitchen appliances such as kettles, toasters and air fryers can draw a large amount of power. Plugging several of them into a single extension lead could overload it, creating dangerous heat build-up."

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He outlined the risks that could be encountered by people using excessive plugs in extension leads. The electrician warned: "The danger is that the damage often happens inside the cable where you cannot see it. By the time scorch marks or a burning smell appear, the risk could already be high."

There's an additional hazard of operating electronics too near to water. Positioning devices close to the sink or water source exposes them to potential direct spillage or moisture build-up in electrical parts.

Harrison recommended that depending on leads ought to only ever be short-term. He explained: "If you are regularly short of plug sockets in the kitchen, the safest option could be to have a professional install extra outlets. It is a one-time upgrade that might save you a lot of problems later."

The electrician has recommended safety checks, including always checking the wattage of your appliances. A kettle or toaster on its own might be fine, but running two or three high-powered gadgets through one lead could push it beyond its limit, reports the Liverpool Echo.

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"It's also advised to opt for extension leads that are clearly marked with a British Standards kite mark. Cheaper, unbranded ones might not be built to cope with the demand," he said. People should be vigilant and notice red flags. This includes: "If you notice scorch marks, a burning smell or a hot cable, it could mean the lead is under strain. Unplug it straight away and do not use it again."

From this month, under the price cap, the average household paying by Direct Debit will shell out 54p a day for electricity and 34p a day for gas – making up, on average, £320 a year of a typical energy bill. And for those who pay on receipt of bills, these costs are even higher.

Your cheapest fix will depend on your location, usage and payment type. Under the energy price cap, there's no actual cap on what you pay, instead it's a cap on the maximum standing charge and unit rate your provider can charge, so if you use more, you pay more.

The rise in the price cap from today is largely driven by higher standing charges. Ofgem tweaks the price cap for households every three months, largely based on the cost of energy on wholesale markets. The energy price cap was introduced by the Government in January 2019.

It establishes a maximum price that energy suppliers can charge consumers in England, Scotland and Wales for each kilowatt hour (kWh) of energy they use. However, it doesn't cap total bills as householders still pay for the amount of energy they consume.