I plugged my pressure washer into a coiled cable reel like I always did: when I smelled the plastic and saw what was happening to the drum, it was too late
That acrid smell of melting plastic isn’t just ruining your cable—it’s creating a lethal electrocution hazard. When a pressure washer runs through a coiled extension reel, heat builds up with nowhere to escape, causing insulation to fuse and earth cores to become live. One small oversight can turn a routine garden task into a fire or electrical emergency.