Extension Cords, Space Heaters, and Other Things That Shouldn't Be Permanent

Look, we've all been there. You plug in a lamp with an extension cord because the outlet's on the wrong side of the room. A week goes by. Then a month. Then suddenly that orange cord snaking under your rug has been there since Halloween... of 2024.

Here's the thing: temporary fixes are great for getting through the day. But when they become permanent members of your household? That's when things get dicey, and in some cases, downright dangerous.

As a B100 General Contractor serving the Salt Lake Valley, we've seen some homes where "temporary" solutions have been running the show for years. And I get it, you're busy, it works well enough, and calling someone feels like overkill.

But some of these band-aids? They're fire hazards. Code violations. Accidents waiting to happen.

Let's talk about the most common offenders and why it's time to upgrade from MacGyver to actually-safe.

The Extension Cord Trap: When Temporary Becomes a Ticking Clock

Extension cords are the poster child for "just for now" turning into "just forever." You run one to power a reading lamp. Then it stays. You tuck it under the edge of the rug so nobody trips. Then it really stays.

Here's what most people don't realize: extension cords are designed for temporary use only. They're not built to handle the constant electrical load that permanent wiring can. When cords are overloaded, pinched, or trapped under rugs where heat can't dissipate, they can overheat and become a fire hazard.

Electrical failures and malfunctions cause tens of thousands of home fires each year nationwide, and misuse of cords and outlets is a contributing factor.

If you've got a cord that's been "temporarily" powering something in your Herriman or Sandy home for more than a few weeks, it's time to have a real outlet installed. It's not just safer, it's also cleaner, more convenient, and it won't fail your next home inspection.

Space Heater Burnout: The $30 Solution That's Costing You Safety

Space heaters are lifesavers when you've got a cold bedroom or a drafty office. But they're supposed to be temporary warmth, not a full-time replacement for a functioning HVAC system.

Here's the problem: space heaters draw massive amounts of power. We're talking 1,500 watts on average. That's more than your fridge, your microwave, and most of your other appliances. When you plug one into an outlet that's already handling a lamp, a phone charger, and your laptop, you're overloading that circuit.

And if you're running that space heater day and night because one room in your house is just always freezing? You're not solving the problem, you're masking it while racking up your electric bill and melting your outlet.

Some homes wind up literally scorched because a space heater was plugged into the same power strip as everything else. The plastic around the plug starts to discolor. The prongs get hot to the touch. Eventually, something gives.

Never plug a space heater into an extension cord or power strip. It should go directly into a wall outlet, and ideally, the heater should be the only high-draw device on that circuit.

But here's the bigger question: why is that room so cold in the first place?

If you've got a bedroom that's perpetually 10 degrees colder than the rest of your house, that's an HVAC issue, not a space heater issue. Maybe the ductwork isn't balanced. Maybe insulation is missing. Maybe a vent got closed and nobody noticed. Your Handyman Pros can coordinate with licensed HVAC pros to figure out the root cause and fix it the right way, so you're not living with a fire hazard every winter.

Daisy-Chaining Power Strips: The Infinite Power Myth

Let's talk about the power strip situation. You've got one outlet. You need to plug in five things. So you plug a power strip into that outlet. Then you realize you need seven things. So you plug another power strip into the first power strip.

Boom. Infinite power, right?

Wrong. So, so wrong.

Every outlet in your home is rated for a specific amount of electrical load. When you daisy-chain power strips together, you're not creating more capacity, you're just splitting the same limited power across more devices. The outlet doesn't care how many things you've plugged in downstream. It's still delivering the same total wattage.

And when you overload it? The breaker trips if you're lucky. The wiring overheats if you're not.

This is especially common in home offices, entertainment centers, and workshops. The fix? Add more outlets. A licensed electrician can install additional receptacles exactly where you need them, so you're not playing electrical Jenga every time you want to charge your phone.

"Temporary" Structural Fixes: The 2x4 That Became Family

Okay, this one's my personal favorite because it's so common and so ridiculous when you actually say it out loud.

"Yeah, that shelf is held up by a 2x4 wedged between the floor and the bottom. It's been like that for three years. Works great!"

Or: "The door doesn't close right, so we just prop it with a piece of wood."

Or my all-time favorite: "The deck railing was wobbly, so I screwed a brace into it. It's totally fine now."

Here's the thing: temporary structural supports are supposed to be temporary. They're meant to hold something in place while you figure out the real fix. They are not load-bearing members of your home's permanent infrastructure.

That 2x4 propping up your shelf? It's not addressing why the shelf brackets failed in the first place. That door that won't close? There's a reason: maybe the frame shifted, maybe the hinges are loose, maybe the house settled. Propping it open doesn't fix it.

And that deck railing? If it was wobbly, it means the structure underneath isn't sound. Slapping a brace on it might feel secure, but it's not addressing the rot, the loose bolts, or whatever caused the wobble to begin with.

As a licensed and insured General Contractor in Salt Lake Valley, I can tell you that these "fixes" always: always: cost more in the long run. Because by the time you finally call someone, the original problem has gotten worse, and now you're looking at a bigger repair.

Command Hook Overload: When Adhesive Meets Ambition

Command hooks are amazing. They're perfect for hanging lightweight picture frames, small decorations, keys, and other stuff that doesn't need a full wall anchor.

But somewhere along the way, people started using them for everything. Heavy mirrors. Floating shelves loaded with books. Coats. Tool organizers.

Here's the deal: adhesive has limits. It's affected by temperature, humidity, wall texture, and how much weight you're asking it to hold. And in Utah, where we've got dry air, temperature swings, and homes that shift with the seasons, those limits get tested constantly.

If what you're hanging weighs more than a couple pounds, or if it's something you'd be bummed about if it fell (like a TV, a heavy mirror, or grandma's antique clock), it needs a real wall anchor or a screw into a stud.

It takes five minutes. It costs almost nothing. And it won't randomly crash to the floor at 2 a.m. and scare the daylights out of everyone.

The Real Fix: Safety, Code Compliance, and Peace of Mind

Look, I'm not here to shame anyone for running an extension cord or using a Command hook. We've all done it. Life gets busy, and sometimes "temporary" is all you've got time for.

But when temporary becomes permanent, that's when it stops being convenient and starts being a liability: for your safety, your home's value, and your peace of mind.

The good news? Fixing this stuff isn't as expensive or time-consuming as you think. Adding an outlet, repairing a structural issue, or replacing a space heater with proper HVAC work: these are jobs that a licensed B100 General Contractor like Your Handyman Pros handles every single day.

We coordinate the right pros: electricians for outlets and wiring, HVAC specialists for heating issues, finish carpenters for structural repairs: so you're not stuck making five different phone calls and hoping everyone shows up on time.

And because we're licensed and insured, you know the work is getting done to code. That matters when you go to sell your home, when you file an insurance claim, or when you just want to sleep at night knowing your house isn't a fire hazard.

Bottom Line: Fix It Right, or Keep Fixing It Forever

Here's what I tell every homeowner in the Salt Lake Valley, from Sandy to Tooele: temporary fixes are fine for a day, maybe a week. But if you're still working around the same problem six months later, it's not temporary anymore: it's just a problem you haven't solved yet.

Extension cords, space heaters, power strip towers, and structural "supports" that are really just lumber scraps: they all share the same issue. They don't fix anything. They just delay the inevitable.

So if you've got a cold room, an outlet shortage, or a door that won't close right, let's actually fix it. You'll save money in the long run, your home will be safer, and you won't have to explain to your house guests why there's a 2x4 propping up your bookshelf.

Ready to ditch the band-aids? Give Your Handyman Pros a call. We'll get it done right: the first time.