Safe Battery Charging at Home Checklist

Most fires linked to phone chargers, power banks and vapes start with something small and avoidable: the wrong charger, a device left charging overnight, or a battery that was already damaged. Fire and rescue services across the UK give the same core advice. Charge in a safe, visible place, use the charger that came with the device, do not cover it, and unplug when it is full¹.

The single most useful habit is to charge while you are awake and in the room. London Fire Brigade's bedtime checks say not to leave phones, laptops or other devices with lithium batteries charging overnight, and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service says to make sure mobile phones, tablets or e-cigarettes are not charging overnight¹. Charging devices overnight or using a dodgy charger poses risks⁴.

A second habit is to know what a failing battery looks like. Stop charging immediately if a battery produces smoke, feels extremely hot to touch, looks swollen or has a lump or leak, makes a hissing or cracking sound, smells unusual, or takes longer to charge or does not fully charge⁵. If you see any of these, unplug it and do not use it again⁶.

Safe charging checklist for phones, power banks and other lithium-ion batteries

Work through this list once, then keep it as a routine. Each item is there because a fire service has seen what happens when it is skipped.

1. Charge in a safe, visible location. Avoid charging near flammable materials or in escape routes, so a problem is seen early and nothing blocks your way out³.
2. Charge on a hard, non-flammable surface. Soft surfaces such as bedding trap heat¹².
3. Do not cover the device, charger or battery. Covering traps heat and increases fire risk, and can cause overheating or even a fire³.
4. Use the charger that came with the device. If you need a new one, get it from the maker of the device⁷.
5. Unplug once charging is finished. Do not leave devices plugged in out of habit¹².
6. Stay in the same room while charging. Charge when you are awake and present, and unplug once fully charged¹³.
7. Keep one item per plug socket where you can. Use a surge protection extension cable where possible to avoid overloading⁹.
8. Do not daisy-chain extension leads. Connecting more than one extension lead together can overload the socket and cause an electrical fault⁹.
9. Check the battery for damage regularly. If you suspect damage, recycle it and do not use or charge it⁵.
10. Check your power bank and charger for recalls. Do not continue to use a battery or charger that has been identified as unsafe¹⁰.
11. Keep a charged power bank ready for emergencies. The government's Be Ready checklist suggests one to charge phones or compatible medical devices¹⁵.
12. Recycle batteries and vapes properly. Never put them in household waste¹¹.

Why charging only with the right charger and adaptor matters

Using the wrong charger can overload the battery and increase the risk of overheating and fire¹⁶. Connecting the wrong charger to a battery can pose serious fire risks, because not all batteries and chargers are safe when used together¹³. The safest rule is simple: only use the charger that came with the device, and if you need a new one, get it from the maker of the device⁷.

This matters most where the charger and the battery were never sold as a pair. With e-bike conversion kits, the battery and charger may be purchased separately, sometimes from different sellers, which increases the risk of incompatible equipment being used¹⁷. Replacement chargers should only be bought from reputable sellers¹⁶.

Counterfeit and substandard chargers are a separate problem. Counterfeit electrical chargers can be deadly, and many fail to meet UK safety regulations, leading to fires and injury¹⁸. Cheap chargers and batteries may not meet UK safety standards and can be dangerous³. Official guidance is to make sure the battery and charger meet UK safety standards, and to only buy items from the right shops⁷. Only purchase your device and charging equipment from a trusted seller and check product reviews¹².

Vapes follow the same rule with an extra caution. Battery capacities and charging voltages may differ, so check you are using the correct charger, only buy from reputable suppliers with the appropriate safety marking, and do not charge on flammable surfaces or for long periods¹⁹. If your device came with a charger, only use that charger²⁰.

Overloaded plug sockets and extension leads

Overloading an extension lead is a fire risk⁴. Extension leads and adapters have a limit on how many amps they can take, so be careful not to overload them, to reduce the risk of fire²². The practical rules are short:

• Only one extension lead should be used per socket, and be careful not to overload it with many high wattage items²³.
• Where possible use a surge protection extension cable and only have one item per plug socket to avoid overloading⁹.
• Use uncoiled extensions and make sure the lead is suitably rated for what you are plugging in²⁴.
• Do not overload socket outlets or use inappropriate extension leads when charging e-bikes and e-scooters²⁶.

The kitchen is a common trouble spot, where don't overload extension leads, this can cause fire is standard advice²⁸. Parents and guardians are told never to overload sockets or extension leads²⁹, and the same message goes to students and to people living alone⁴.

Check whether your power bank has been recalled

Recalls are not rare, and a recalled battery can fail while it is charging. The most important thing you can do is to regularly check if your appliances have been recalled, using the government's product recall site, the manufacturer's website or Electrical Safety First's recall register³⁰. You can also check the list of recalled items on the Electrical Safety First website, which explains what to do with your recalled appliance²⁴.

A worked example shows why it matters. On 8 December 2025 the Office for Product Safety and Standards recalled two Belkin power bank models, the BoostCharge USB-C BPB002 and the Playa USB-C PB0003. The product presents a risk of fire as the lithium-ion batteries can overheat whilst in use, which can lead to localised smoking, melting and/or a risk of fire¹⁰. The notice told consumers to stop using the product immediately and complete the recall form on the Belkin website to receive a full refund or replacement¹⁰.

Signs a battery is failing, and what to do

Keep an eye out for warning signs that the battery might be failing and becoming a fire risk⁷. Fire and rescue services list the same set of signals. Stop using or charging your battery immediately if you notice overheating, deformation, noise, smell, performance problems or smoke²⁵. In detail, do not use or charge your device if the battery is producing smoke, feeling extremely hot to touch, looking swollen or having any type of lump or leak, making a hissing or cracking sound, smelling unusual, or taking longer to charge or not fully charging⁵.

If you notice warning signs, stop charging immediately and unplug the device if it is charging⁶. If the battery gets unusually hot, starts to bulge or starts hissing, stop using it immediately and leave it in a safe place until you can dispose of it properly²⁰. A swollen battery should never be pressed back into shape or kept in use.

Disposing of used batteries and vapes safely

Vapes and e-cigarettes cannot go into your regular rubbish or recycling bin, because the battery could be damaged and start a fire²⁰. The lithium-ion batteries found in vapes are a known fire risk when disposed of incorrectly, and the chemicals inside can contaminate water sources and soil¹⁴. Avoid disposing of e-cigarettes, vapes or batteries in your household waste¹¹.

Use designated battery and vape recycling points, often available in supermarkets, or place them in a small, clear tied bag and leave them on top of recycling boxes for kerbside collection¹¹. Retail battery recycling bins accept AA, AAA, 9V and button cells, rechargeable batteries, and battery packs from devices if removable³. Check your council's rules for kerbside collection, as arrangements differ.

For a damaged or swollen battery, do not put it in a bin at all. Leave it in a safe place until you can dispose of it properly²⁰, and take it to a recycling point rather than storing it indoors long term.

Keeping the setup ready for a power cut

A safe charging routine is also a preparedness routine. The government's Be Ready checklist suggests keeping a charged power bank to charge phones or compatible medical devices¹⁵, and a torch with spare batteries is on the Met Office winter checklist³¹. Charge your power bank during the day, in the open, and unplug it when full, so it is ready when the mains fails.

If you rely on a larger battery, such as a portable power station, the same charging rules apply: keep it in a safe, visible place, away from flammable materials and escape routes³. For more on choosing and using backup power, see Backup Power at Home: A Household Guide and Power Banks: Keeping Phones Charged in an Emergency. If you are charging an e-bike or e-scooter, the dedicated guidance is in Lithium-Ion Battery Safety at Home.