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? Turns out, it could mean savings for both you and the planet -- but it’s hardly the only plug to pull.
Does your toaster use electricity, even when you’re not using it?
THE ANSWER
Yes, but so does every other appliance in your home.
SOURCES
WHAT WE FOUND
“So in the simplest terms, as long as something is connected, and they have some kind of a power conversion device inside them, they're going to be using just a trickle of electricity,” Narayanamurthy said. He says manufacturers and regulators have worked together a lot over the last few decades to make products that use less.
“So a toaster that's plugged in today might be using far less energy than it would have 20 years ago,” he said.
But our homes, offices, and shared spaces have been getting “smarter”-- more connected and online -- and that takes energy.
“As we go towards the smart home and the connected home now we are seeing a lot more energy loss, because all of them are staying on just to stay connected to the to to your app, essentially,”Narayanamurthy said. “So it's not a huge amount. But everything adds up.”
The NRDC’s studies have found a lot of appliances suck up power, even when the power switch is off. The toaster’s “idle electricity use” is near the bottom of the list in most households. Main offenders include the television and all its accessories, desktop computers, printers, and internet equipment.
“Anything you can unplug, unplug, if you're using something that's less than an hour a day, unplug it,”Narayanamurthysaid. “In comparison, I think the toaster definitely is not where the big energies are today.”
Even if it only adds a few dollars a year to your electric bill, multiply that by several appliances around the house.
Or beyond that? Millions of households around the country.
However, some smart technology, like with thermostats and water heaters, can also help us be more energy efficient, so the Department of Energy is still studying the tradeoffs.
Those are things you probably wouldn’t unplug anyway.
FAQs
It's true! Even if an appliance is turned off, it's still using a small amount of power if it's plugged into an outlet. Believe it or not, even if you think an appliance is completely turned off, it may still be using a little bit of electricity.
Do toasters use electricity when not in use? ›
The NRDC's studies have found a lot of appliances suck up power, even when the power switch is off. The toaster's “idle electricity use” is near the bottom of the list in most households. Main offenders include the television and all its accessories, desktop computers, printers, and internet equipment.
Should I unplug my toaster everyday? ›
The golden rule with appliances is to unplug when not in use. This is especially relevant to heat producing appliances such as toasters. Unplugging your toaster after use avoids any risk of fire caused by a faulty appliance or faulty electrics.
Does a toaster use a lot of electricity? ›
The average Toaster uses 1100 watts. Your devices wattage may be different depending on the brand, size, or other factors.
How much electricity does unplugging the toaster save? ›
The Department of Energy estimates you could save 10% every month when you unplug appliances when not in use. Unplugging appliances can save electricity, so make it as much a habit as when you turn off the lights to conserve energy.
What happens if you leave the toaster on? ›
Toasters are inherently dangerous because they produce heat.
The problem is that electric elements can continue to generate the necessary amount of heat even after their selected time has elapsed, and this could potentially lead to fires.
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 TV be turned off when not in use? ›
Leaving your TV on standby is not likely to result in a fire hazard. However, in the interest of safety, it is strongly recommended to turn your TV off at the wall. Unplugging your TV between uses can help to save a lot of electricity. Even when in standby, a TV continues to consume electricity!
Does a microwave use electricity when plugged in? ›
Microwaves are one of the most energy-efficient appliances in your kitchen. The amount of energy they use to heat food is much lower than that of a conventional oven. But like all appliances, microwaves still consume electricity when they're plugged in, even if they're not being used.
Should I unplug my AC when not in use? ›
HVAC experts agree it's better to keep your AC on when you're on vacation, especially if you don't plan to leave any windows open. It may be tempting to turn your AC off to save money, but doing so can damage appliances such as refrigerators.
Heating devices use thermal energy.
Heating devices will convert the electrical energy from the mains a/c (alternating current) supply into thermal energy. This thermal energy can be used in the heating element of a toaster. The wasted energy here may be in the form of sound energy.
What uses more electricity toaster or air fryer? ›
An average air fryer uses between 800 and 1500 watts of power, while a toaster oven can use between 1200 and 1800 watts. On the other hand, some high-end air fryer models can use up to 2000 watts of power, whereas some toaster ovens can use as little as 800 watts.
Does a toaster use electricity when not in use? ›
Most bread toasters are not considered vampire devices as they use little to no standby energy. And any standby energy they do consume is considered negligible because of its amount.
Should you unplug your toaster when you're not using it? ›
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.
What appliances should I unplug when not in use? ›
Unplug it!
- Small kitchen appliances. Obviously there are some kitchen appliances that would be unwise, and almost impossible, to unplug: think your dishwasher, oven, and refrigerator. ...
- Chargers. ...
- Entertainment system. ...
- Computers. ...
- Old, nondigital electronics. ...
- Power strips.
What appliances use the most energy on standby mode and when powered off?
- Television.
- Printer.
- Central heating furnace.
- Microwaves.
- Computer. There are a few ways to solve for vampires. First, you can unplug an appliance when you're not using them.
In other words, does leaving a plug socket on use electricity? An empty plug socket does not use any electricity, because the current has nowhere to flow unless there's a plug completing the circuit and an appliance switched on.
Does unplugging save electricity? ›
Yes. Unplugging your appliances can reduce the amount of electricity you use each month and lower your carbon footprint. However, you might not notice much of a cost savings. It depends on how many appliances you unplug and your overall bills.
Is electricity wasted if we switch on a socket and not use it? ›
Unless there is an external appliance which acts a current consuming load, there won't be consumption by the socket. So do not worry if you leave the switch of a socket on. It will not show on your bill! But for safety reasons, its best the switch is off when the socket is not in use.
