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 electricity 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. Although some appliances are harder to unplug than others.
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. Modern computers are much more power efficient, meaning that if you have an ancient desktop lying around, it might be a good idea to upgrade if you’re power conscious.
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.
Printers And Scanners
Many households often own outdated scanners and printers that have been in the family for decades. Other than using expensive and hard-to-find ink, these printers also use more electricity than you think, even when they aren’t printing.
Older models of printers are always waiting for orders when they are plugged in, so they continuously draw power.
Portable Fans
Portable fans, much like space heaters, can draw on your electricity when they are turned off, especially if they are older models.
While they are perfect for keeping on during the summer heat, try to avoid leaving them unattended, as they could pose a small fire risk if left on for long enough.
Washing Machines
Old washing machines are notorious for being fire hazards. Faulty wiring or mechanical issues from wear and tear make these seemingly innocuous appliances more of a danger than you’d think.
However, it may be inconvenient or sometimes impossible to unplug these appliances when not in use; rather, keep a watchful eye on them when they are on and shortly afterwards.
Clothes Dryers
Old and outdated clothes dryers can have similar problems to washing machines. Malfunctioning thermostats can lead to much more heat than needed, break the dryer, and pose a fire hazard.
Like the washing machine, it may not be easy to unplug these appliances, but being mindful of their age and reliability could save your house from burning down.
Deep Fryers
Some kitchen appliances pose a greater risk of fire than others. Deep fryers used to be a common sight in countries like the UK, but are now dying out.
In a world full of modern and more reliable appliances, the deep fryer is losing its place, and that might be a good thing. These appliances were once notorious for causing house fires. If you still own one, be extra careful when using it and never leave it plugged in.
Air Fryers
While air fryers haven’t been around long enough to have a lot of data on them, it would be wise to clean any buildup of oil out of the inside before each use.
It’s an overall good idea to unplug them, just like many appliances that have an easy-to-reach plug, as this will save you some residual power consumption and keep you from feeling paranoid.
Smart Speakers
Many households in the United States have adopted smart speakers like Amazon Echo and Google Nest, but because these speakers are always waiting for your next command, they are never truly off.
While the speakers don’t use much power when in standby mode, if you’re trying to cut every unnessecary cost, coul save you a few dollars over a year if unplugged.
Kettle
Kettles are great and convenient appliances for having a quick cup of coffee in the morning, but since they have a heating element, they can potentially put you at risk of a fire.
Once you’ve boiled your water, it’s a good habit to unplug your kettle from the wall to minimize any potential hazards that could cost you your home. Electric kettles with an automatic shut-off can malfunction, or water residue can cause shorts.
Digital Picture Frames
Digital picture frames are a great way of drawing attention to the family photos, but while they make cool centerpieces, their LEDs draw a small amount of power.
The more digital picture frames you have, the more power is drawn, which can all add up quickly to more than you would think, especially when left on 24 hours a day. To save some electricity, they can be unplugged when going to bed or only plugged in when guests are over.
Electric Griddles
Appliances that provide high heat to quickly cook food should be unplugged when not in use to minimize the risk of a malfunction and fire. Electric griddles and sandwich makers can accumulate a lot of grease after being used, which can be flammable.
It’s a good idea to clean these appliances regularly and unplug them from the wall socket after you’re done making some delicious food.
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