A lot of common household appliances could be secretly draining your electricity even when they aren’t turned on. This phenomenon is often called “phantom power” or “vampire energy.” While some devices pose a threat to your electricty bill, others can have more serious implications, posing serious fire hazards if left plugged in unattended.
Next time you’re out shopping for your next appliance, avoid illuminated displays, or “instant-on” features, as these are red flags for phantom loads. For fire safety, inspect cords and make sure they are well-insulated, and check the appliance itself for safety certifications. Avoid appliances that get hot to the touch, even when turned off, or emit any burning smell.
Dryers, Straighteners, and Curling Irons
It’s no secret that one of the keys to beauty and fashion is hair styling tools like hairdryers, straighteners, and curling irons.
However, as essential as these items may be in your daily routine or nights out on the town, they are capable of generating a lot of heat, so it’s best to keep them unplugged when you aren’t using them, or else they could malfunction and start a fire.
Space Heaters
We know that space heaters are some of the best devices during winter, but they can put your home at risk if you aren’t careful. Space heaters are responsible for almost 1,000 home fires every year and account for 46% of heating-related fires.
Always make sure to unplug your space heaters when they aren’t being used, as even when turned off, they can be dangerous.
Electric Blankets
While modern electric blankets have more safety features than ever, older models are especially prone to house fires, accounting for around 500 every year.
The wiring degrades over time, making unplugging them when you aren’t using them or going out an important step in proper safety. Even newer blankets should be unplugged when not in use for peace of mind.
Kitchen Appliances
There’s a general rule about kitchen appliances. If they have any kind of LED display or digital clock will use power even when not in use.
If you can see these displays even when appliances are off, their electricity can add up over time and contribute to your electricity bill at the end of the month. Some culprits include coffee makers and fancy dishwashers.
Phone And Laptop Chargers
You might think that the simple cable you use to charge your phone or laptop will only draw electricity when you connect the relevant device, but that’s simply not true.
While some chargers have smart technologies, many simple charging cables will draw power to charge your device, whether or not you have it plugged in. Charger lifespans can go down while increasing your electric bill at the end of the month.
Entertainment Systems
Many entertainment systems will not turn off properly and have a mode where they go into standby for more convenience and faster start up times.
This feature, while handy, does draw power even when you think your system might be off. These devices can use anywhere from 5-10 watts each, adding up across the month and costing millions of households more each month.
Computers And Office Equipment
Computers are often left to automatically go into sleep mode. Much like entertainment systems, this means that they can start up faster and keep data, but at the cost of power usage.
Another reason to unplug these important devices is that electrical surges and storms can damage components if left unattended. Surge protectors can protect your computer from damage, and unplugging any peripherals can ensure as little power as possible is used.
Electric Toothbrush
Electric toothbrushes are great for brushing your teeth, but leaving them plugged into their charging station can impact your electricity more than you think it would.
This phantom energy might not be a lot, but like if you have a lot of items on this list plugged in, they can all add up to drain a noticeable amount of electricity. Just unplug them when you don’t need to charge your electric toothbrush.
Exercise Equipment
Exercise equipment that plugs into the wall can use a lot of power due to its heavy motors. However, even when these devices are unplugged, they can drain your power through LED displays.
There are documented cases of faulty exercise equipment causing electrical fires, so it’s best to leave these items unplugged if you’ve already done your exercise for the day.
Toasters
Toasters may seem innocent enough, but they have exposed heating elements that can be activated by a stuck lever or faulty switch.
The London Fire Brigade has reported dozens of fires in kitchens every year due to toasters being left plugged in. Even when they aren’t being used, they will still sap a small amount of power.
Air Conditioners
Portable Air Conditioners can draw up to 10 watts even when they aren’t on but are plugged into the wall. They are also notorious for being able to trip breakers or cause other electrical faults if left on during power surges.
Rather, keep portable AC units in storage during the warmer months, and when winter comes, unplug them when you leave the house or aren’t using them.
Food Processors
Small kitchen appliances like food processors, blenders, and even electric can openers will often have internal clocks or sensors that will slowly us power over time and all add up.
In some rare cases, older faulty devices can even cause these items to malfunction and start fires. Most modern devices should have protection built in, but it’s still better to be safe and just turn them off before going out or leaving the room.
Lamps
Many lamps that have extra features, such as dimmers, smart bulbs, or touch controls, will often draw a tiny bit of power when not in use. If you’re on a budget and need every watt, consider unplugging these devices.
String lights can also overheat if left plugged in for too long. Fire departments urge people to unplug lamps when leaving on holiday to minimize fire risks.
Discover more trending stories and Follow us to keep inspiration flowing to your feed!
Craving more home and lifestyle inspiration? Hit Follow to keep the creativity flowing, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below!