People rarely think about what they leave behind when they plan a vacation: it’s all about the resorts, the sightseeing, and adventures. However, in your absence, your everyday items might be having their own adventures as they’re left unsupervised. Electronics can easily malfunction, and without you to quickly intervene, a disaster is impossible to avoid. So, why not plan ahead? Unplugging these things is quick and easy and saves you the anxiety of thinking about what you’d come home to after a week abroad. Let’s explore the 19 most important things to unplug when you’re not at home!
1. Your TV
Modern TVs have this very interesting feature in their design. It’s in standby mode, quietly wasting energy while you’re away. If you unplug your TV, then not only are you protecting yourself from power surges should an outage or the seasonal summer storm happen, but you’re saving energy from phantom power use.
2. Wi-Fi Routers
Your modem and router are staying fully powered, even while no one’s browsing. So, on top of the constant electricity drain, this tiny thing is well known as the number 1 hidden energy sucker due to how much it requires to stay functional. It’s safe and smart to unplug these when you’re on vacation!
3. Chargers
Did you know they still sip power even when they’re not charging anything? The charger left in your wall still draws electricity after you take out your phone, laptop, toothbrush, or whatever, really. Each charger left to charge virtually nothing adds up fast to the electricity drain and the chance of a spontaneous fire.
4. Microwaves
Yes, you heard that right. In fact, they’re major standby hogs. The microwave’s internal clock and memory functions still run by drawing constant power, and so money from your electricity bill. The estimated cost? Between $10 and $20 a year to just leave your microwave in standby. It may not look like much, but why not be both safe and economical?
5. Desktop Computers
When only turned off, desktops, monitors, and printers draw energy. Unless they’re unplugged or turned off at the power strip, they’re still building up your electricity bill. And the risk of a spontaneous electric surge? It’s there. So, protect both your electronics and your bill with one switch.
6. Air Purifiers
But really, they don’t need to run without you there. No one’s breathing the air. When you leave the air purifier to just sit there, it goes into “auto mode”. So it uses energy 24/7. It’s best to unplug and make sure to replace the filters before your trip.
7. Lamps And Smart Bulbs
Lamps with smart bulbs can be the devil in disguise. They’re using power while “off”. They also stay connected to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to continue updating. Unless it’s one of those timed security lights, unplug those lamps to avoid both skyrocketing your energy bill and the chance for malfunction when left unattended.
8. Game Consoles
A not-so-fun fact is that they stay in listening mode. Xbox, PlayStation, they’re sneakily downloading updates, and they’re ready to respond to voice commands! Constant energy use, checked. Your saved files won’t go anywhere, so unplug these consoles before your trip.
9. Washers And Dryers
They are known to have digital brains. When not in use, newer models use the power for things like internal displays, their sensors or other smart tech. The energy use doesn’t stop unless you unplug these, or at least flip the switch!
10. Smart Speaker
Well, it might be spying. Devices such as Amazon Echo and Google Home stay “on” when turned off to respond instantly. It’s not the best news for today. That is adding to the constant Wi-Fi connection and electricity use. So, unplug both for your security and safety.
11. Unused Mini-Fridges
If a secondary fridge or drink cooler is in your house, now is the best time to empty it and unplug it. When they barely have anything to keep cool inside, these little devils can cost $50+ just to stay running. They’re often less efficient than a regular fridge, too. Make sure to have it defrost by leaving the door open.
12. Make It Easy With Power Strips
By having a bunch of items in one zone, you’re already making your life easier. How? Because you can plug everything into one single power strip. And when you’re away, you may only flip one switch off, and you’re good to go. It’s really the easiest way to escape phantom loads.
13. Aquarium Filters
Heaters also fit this category. And yes, leaving fish behind is a judgment call. If the tank is being really well taken care of, perhaps you have someone come in and check regularly, then leave it alone. But if you’re emptying it, then turning off filters and heaters is the smart way to save energy and prevent a possible malfunction.
14. Security Cameras
You need to choose wisely here. Is it smart and necessary to keep every camera running while you’re away? Outdoor security is non-negotiable, but non-essential indoor devices that record constantly are not really helping you when you’re away from home. Stopping them saves you from possible data leaks as well!
15. Heated Towel Racks
This also includes other luxury features, such as electric bidets and aroma diffusers. They all might be on timers, but at the end of the day, they still are consuming energy. Flipping them off and keeping your bathroom energy use at zero is the best when you’re away, since the wet environment is a red flag for all gadgets.
16. Decorative Fountains
Beautiful, yes. And they’re running nonstop water pumps and LED lights. Turning them off, or better yet, unplugging them, spares you the spike in energy and water use. Plus, it extends the pump’s lifespan.
17. Electric Blankets
It doesn’t matter the time of the year. Hot or cold, some people prefer keeping their electric blankets on. However, electric blankets pull more power than you probably realize if they’re not unplugged. By unplugging them, you’re also preventing the risk of an electrical fire. Not to mention the wiring, which would otherwise become worn out.
18. Coffee Makers And Toasters
Everybody loves a sleek coffee machine, especially those with clocks on the screen. But, just as your toaster and blender do, it eats up your electricity bill while you’re not using it. Top that with LED displays and auto functions, and you might have to cut your vacation short to be able to afford your electricity bill. Make sure you don’t pay for idle appliances.
19. Garage Door Openers
These things usually stay powered on constantly due to how convenient and safe it is for people to have them. However, you don’t really need access to your garage while on vacation. It is best practice to unplug these unless there is an option such as “vacation mode.”