New Delhi, Nov. 3 -- Winter is the season when our home's electricity usage quietly shoots up. Room heaters, geysers, air purifiers, kettles, coffee makers, and ovens are all working overtime to keep us warm and comfortable. But most homes, especially older apartments, don't have enough wall outlets to support all these high-power devices. That's when extension cords feel like the easiest solution, we plug in multiple appliances, stretch cords across rooms, and assume nothing will go wrong.

The problem is that extension cords are meant for temporary, low-power electronics, not devices that generate heat or run nonstop. When a high-wattage appliance pulls more current than a cord can handle, the wires start overheating from within. Carpet...