Why Unplug Appliances When Not in Use | Neighborly Expert Tips (2024)

Why Unplug Appliances When Not in Use | Neighborly Expert Tips (1)

Have you ever walked through your house and noticed that almost everything that has a power cord is plugged in all day, every day?

Did you know that leaving devices plugged in uses energy even while not in use? Other than having a higher electric bill, leaving your appliances plugged in can cause all sorts of hazards in your home, including increased fire risks.

It’s easy to forget to unplug your appliances whenever you leave the house for a while, but there are quite a few benefits if you remember to unplug them. Read on to learn more about the reasons why you should unplug your appliances when you’re out of town:

  • Unplug Your Appliances to Save Energy
  • Unplug Your Appliances for Safety
  • Unplugging Appliances FAQ


Unplug Your Appliances to Save Energy

Most homes have around 40 appliances. When these appliances stay plugged in all the time, they draw ambient power. This ambient power draw accounts for around 10% of an average energy bill. Some appliances draw more power than others, so what should you unplug to save the most money without inconveniencing yourself?

  • Small kitchen appliances – While you should leave large appliances like your fridge, stove, oven, and garbage disposal plugged in at all times, smaller devices don’t need to be plugged in unless they’re actively being used. Leave toaster ovens, coffee makers, food processors, blenders, air fryers, and stand mixers unplugged until it’s time to use them. Leaving things like toaster ovens and air fryers unplugged also lowers the risk of fires.

  • Device chargers – Many people have a bad habit of leaving their phone chargers and other device chargers plugged in at all times. But unless you’re actively charging something, it’s just a waste of electricity.

  • Entertainment devices – Entertainment devices like televisions, video game consoles, and other devices love to eat up ambient energy with their blinking lights and indicators. Consider plugging your whole entertainment system into a single power strip that you can unplug or turn off whenever you aren’t using your devices.

  • Computers – When you put your computer to sleep, it keeps drawing ambient power to keep basic functions going. Turn off your computer and unplug it when you aren’t using it. While this will increase boot-up time slightly, it also extends the lifespan of your computer and leads to savings on your utility bill.


Unplug Your Appliances for Safety

Leaving appliances plugged in increases the risk of fires. Consumer Reports studies show that about half of appliance-related fires are due to issues with the appliances themselves. Often, this happens when an appliance has been recalled, but the owner isn’t aware of the recall. Leaving recalled appliances plugged in and active presents a major risk.

In particular, you should always leave small kitchen appliances, particularly those with heating elements, unplugged. Air fryers, electric kettles, coffee makers, and toaster ovens all pose a significant threat if they have an issue while you are away from home. It’s also easy to make a mistake and accidentally turn on one of these appliances or forget to turn them off, which can cause a fire.

Unplugging these appliances is a great safety tip and is an easy way to prevent hazardous fires. Get additional appliance safety tips from your local Mr. Appliance professional.


Unplugging Appliances FAQ

Should I unplug electrical appliances when not in use?

Yes, unplugging electrical devices saves electricity and reduces the chance of an electrical fire.

What appliances use the most electricity when turned off?

Generally, any device that has an LED display or a light that blinks to indicate whether it is on or off will draw a meaningful amount of power even when turned off. Other devices, such as toaster ovens, coffee makers, and lamps, also draw a lot of power when turned off.

How much money does unplugging things save?

It’s estimated that devices left plugged in and unused account for 10% of the average household’s utility bill. By properly unplugging your appliances, you can save as much as 10% on your utility bill.

Is leaving appliances plugged in a fire hazard?

Yes, leaving appliances plugged in is a fire hazard. This is particularly true for kitchen appliances with heating elements like a coffee maker, toaster, or air fryer.


Call On Neighborly for All of Your Appliance-Related Needs

Turning off your appliances saves you money, reduces the risk of electrical fires, and can even extend the lifespan of your appliances. Make sure to unplug them whenever possible, and always unplug them when you leave for an extended period of time.

Want to learn more? Read about more reasons to unplug your appliances from our partners at Rainbow Restoration. And when you need help getting things done around the house, the Neighborly® family of home service brands is ready to help. Whether it's to maintain, repair, or enhance your home, our experienced and trusted pros will get the job done right!

Why Unplug Appliances When Not in Use | Neighborly Expert Tips (2024)

FAQs

Why Unplug Appliances When Not in Use | Neighborly Expert Tips? ›

Unplug Your Appliances to Save Energy

Why should you unplug appliances when not in use? ›

Unplugging appliances has the potential to save you money on expenses, and this practice can also increase the life of your belongings. The more items you have plugged in around the house, the more susceptible your devices are to damage through an unexpected power surge.

Why is it important to turn off appliances when not in use environment? ›

By unplugging these appliances, we can significantly reduce our electricity bills and conserve energy. Unplugging appliances is also a crucial safety measure. Appliances left plugged in can become potential fire hazards due to overheating, power surges, or malfunctions, even when they're not in active use.

Should I unplug my washing machine when not in use? ›

It's estimated that households on average have 40 appliances that are constantly using power, contributing to 10% of household energy use. That adds up to about $100 a year. So do yourself a favor and unplug those devices you aren't using all the time.

Should you turn off plugs when not in use? ›

This next tip is an obvious one but we need to talk about it. When not in use, turn off and unplug any electrical appliances. This includes TVs, chargers, toasters, kettles and so on.

Should I unplug my TV when not in use? ›

Should I unplug electrical appliances when not in use? Yes, unplugging electrical devices saves electricity and reduces the chance of an electrical fire.

Should air fryers be unplugged when not in use? ›

Give the air fryer its own outlet while in use and unplug it after. The safest outlet is an empty one. Air fryers draw a large current and have the potential to cause an electrical fire. It's always best to unplug them when not in use.

Should I unplug my microwave when not in use? ›

First, unplugging appliances and other electronics when not in use saves you money. Second, unplugging reduces your carbon footprint while also helping the Earth and everyone on the planet.

Does leaving cords plugged in use electricity? ›

Electronic devices use power when they're plugged in, even if they're not turned on. Unplugging large appliances such as your refrigerator, range, and dishwasher would be unwise, and difficult to do as well, and anything with a clock that needs to be reset after a power outage should be left alone.

What appliances use the most electricity when turned off? ›

What appliances use the most energy on standby mode and when powered off?
  1. Television.
  2. Printer.
  3. Central heating furnace.
  4. Microwaves.
  5. Computer. There are a few ways to solve for vampires. First, you can unplug an appliance when you're not using them.
Dec 20, 2022

Should I unplug my toaster when not in use? ›

Leaving your toaster plugged in uses electricity, but it's hardly the worst offender in your house. WASHINGTON — Have you heard the advice to unplug your toaster when it's not in use, to save some dough on your energy bill?

Does unplugging things save in the electric bill? ›

While unplugging appliances can reduce your energy costs, you have to decide whether the savings are worth it. The United States Department of Energy estimates that you can save $100 per year on your energy bill by unplugging your appliances. That comes out to $8.33 per month (or about 27 cents per day).

Is it safe to leave washing machine plugged in? ›

Any electrical appliance that is left plugged in to the mains could cause a fire. Some appliances like fridges and freezers are designed to be left on, but even these can cause fires if they are not used properly. Safety advice: keep the area around plug sockets and the mains switch clear.

Is it better to unplug appliances when not in use? ›

This continual use of power drives up your monthly electric bill. There's a simple solution, though: Just unplug the appliances when you aren't using them. According to the US Department of Energy, unplugging these devices could save the average household up to $100 a year.

Is it better to turn off or unplug? ›

The energy costs of plugged-in appliances can really add up, and unplugging these devices could help you save on your energy bills. Another benefit of unplugging your appliances is protection from power surges.

Is it OK to leave something plugged in all the time? ›

All things plugged in will bleed some energy. Called "standby" electricity loss because it's so often associated with electronics in standby or idle mode, it's also known as "phantom" or "vampire" electricity (for obvious reasons). Even turned off, many appliances keep drawing power.

Does leaving something plugged in use electricity? ›

Did you know that when your appliances or electronic devices are plugged in, they're draining energy – even if they're not in use? Phantom power, also called standby power, refers to the energy that's wasted around your home when devices are plugged in and using power, but you're not actively using them.

Should I unplug my AC when not in use? ›

Why You Shouldn't Turn Off Your AC When Not Home. Suppose you ask yourself, “Should I turn off my AC when I leave the house?” In that case, it is unwise to do so. Turning your AC off puts the more minor parts at risk of breaking, or becoming damaged, mainly if used regularly.

Should phone chargers be unplugged when not in use? ›

Chargers. Most people are probably guilty of leaving their phone chargers plugged in, either by the nightstand or maybe on the counter. Whenever you're finished charging your phone, or when it reaches 100%, you should always unplug the charger.

Should you unplug appliances when going on vacation? ›

Unplugging unnecessary devices will ensure they don't use any phantom energy while you're away. Plus, this helps you enjoy a lower energy bill. Power bars make this much easier as you can simply shut power off directly on the bar.

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