Is stacking power adapters and using a bottle for support actually dangerous?

You are playing a dangerous game with that setup, even if the glass bottle is holding up the weight. The primary issue isn't just the physical tension on the outlet; it's the cumulative electrical resistance and the risk of **arcing** at every single one of those connection points. Every time you plug a splitter into a splitter, you’re creating a series of high-resistance junctions that are prone to overheating in ways a circuit breaker can't always detect. Most people think as long as the breaker doesn't trip, they’re safe. But standard breakers are designed to trip on a hard short or a massive overcurrent. They won't necessarily trip becasue of a 'glowing connection' or a small arc inside a loose splitter. That heat can build up inside the wall box over time, drying out wire insulation til it eventually ignites. The fact that the outlet was alredy pulling away from the wall suggests the internal mounting or the wires themselves have already been stressed more than they shoud be. Strictly speaking, you're in direct violation of the National Electrical Code. You aren't supposed to daisy-chain power strips or splitters like that. These devices are tested and rated to be plugged directly into a permanently installed wall outlet, not each other. By stacking them, you're effectively bypassing the safety ratings of the first device in the chain and putting the entire load on a single set of contacts. Your roommate is right to be worried. My advice is to ditch the milk bottle and the mountain of splitters immediatly. Get yourself a single, high-quality **surge protector** with a heavy-duty 14-gauge cord that’s long enough to sit flat on the floor. This eliminates the weight on the wall and reduces the number of failure points. If you still need more outlets than one strip provides, you really need to look into having an electrician install a quad-box. It's a small price to pay for some peace of mind.

I had no idea the breaker wouldn't catch a "glowing connection." That’s actually pretty terrifying. I always thougth if the wires didn't feel hot to the touch, everythign was fine.

Wait, does the glass milk bottle act as an insulator though? Or coud the heat from the outlet actually crack the glass if it gets too hot? I’m also wondering if there are any smart plugs that can tell you if something is drawing too much power before it gets dangerous. I’ve seen some that track wattage, but would those even help in this mess?

That glass bottle is a band-aid on a bullet wound. The real worry is what happened to the outlet's internal contacts when they started sagging. Those brass leaves inside the outlet lose thier spring tension when they get bent or overheated. Once they're loose, you get micro-arcing every time the PC draws a heavy load, and a smart plug won't save you from that becuase it only monitors what’s plugged into it, not the connection behind it. Regarding the glass—it won't crack from heat before your wall is already on fire. But it's a huge trip hazard. One accidental kick and you've got shattered glass and energized wires flopping around. Just get a proper quad-outlet installed.

The physical weight is a huge red flag. If that bottle gets bumped or slips, you’re looking at a shower of sparks when all those connections yank apart at once under load. I’ve seen wall boxes where the plastic actualy charred and turned into a brittle mess from the heat buildup, even without the breaker tripping. You're basially gambling your whole PC setup over a cheap fix. Seriously, a single heavy-duty power strip sitting on the floor solves the weight issue and cuts your failure points down to almost nothing. It’s way cheaper than an insurance claim.