Yes, you should turn off or unplug electrical appliances when not in use. It significantly lowers fire hazards, protects your electronics from power surges, and stops "vampire" or "phantom" power—the electricity that appliances continue to draw even when idle.
5 appliances you need to unplug every time you leave the house
Is switching off a socket the same as unplugging? The only method to ensure no electricity flows through an appliance is to turn it off at the socket and pull the plug out.
Make sure you turn off at the wall for appliances such as your TV, computer, game console and phone charger. When devices are left switched on, even on stand-by, they are still consuming (and wasting) energy. If you can't switch off your wall plug, unplug the device once it's fully charged or no longer in use.
7 Devices You Can Unplug to Lower Your Utility Bill
In most homes, Heating and Cooling (HVAC) systems drive the highest energy costs, accounting for nearly 40% to 50% of your total electricity bill. Following these, the appliances that run up your bill the most include water heaters, refrigerators, and laundry machines.
The Top Energy-Draining Appliance: Space Heating & Cooling
This includes both forced-air systems, heat pumps, furnaces, baseboards, window A/C units, and fans. Because they run for long periods and often at high wattage, they dominate the consumption profile.
1. Kitchen Countertop Appliances. Get into the habit of turning off kitchen countertop appliances, such as a toaster or electric kettle, before heading to bed.
Electric heating systems and tumble dryers tend to be the most expensive electrical items to run because they use large amounts of power over extended periods. Other high-cost appliances include electric ovens and immersion heaters.
The "50/50 rule" for appliances is an industry guideline used to decide whether to repair or replace a broken unit. It states: If a repair costs 50% or more of the price of a brand-new comparable appliance, and the unit is more than halfway through its expected lifespan, you should replace it.
The top 5 worst appliances to leave on standby
NEC Section 210.52(a)(1) (aka 6'-12' rule): Receptacles shall be installed such that no point measured horizontally along the floor line of any wall space is more than 6' from a receptacle outlet..
Leaving your TV on all day uses a moderate amount of electricity—comparable to running a standard 60-watt light bulb. It typically consumes between 1 and 2 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day, which adds just $0.15 to $0.40 to your daily electric bill, depending on your local energy rates.
If a storm is approaching, unplug these items to avoid expensive damage or safety risks:
Stoves and ovens (cooking equipment) are the leading cause of house fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking is the number one cause of home fires and injuries, primarily due to unattended cooking, grease buildup, and human error.
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.
In most homes, Heating and Cooling (HVAC) systems drive the highest energy costs, accounting for nearly 40% to 50% of your total electricity bill. Following these, the appliances that run up your bill the most include water heaters, refrigerators, and laundry machines.
Foundation problems are typically the most expensive thing to replace in a house. Major foundation repairs can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000 or more, depending on how bad the damage is.
Gregor recommends unplugging microwaves, coffee makers, toasters, blenders, food processors, kettles, slow cookers, rice cookers, and ice makers — pretty much any small kitchen appliance. Appliances with an auto timer are especially important to unplug, according to Tom Jameson, owner of AstroWatt Electric.
Your HVAC system is typically the biggest energy consumer, followed by your water heater and refrigerator. These appliances work hard to heat, cool and run 24/7. For more information on how much electricity your household appliances use, check out our electricity consumption comparison page.
Preventing Kitchen Fires by Unplugging Appliances
The kitchen appliance you should unplug before going to sleep to avoid a fire is usually the air fryer or sometimes toaster ovens. These devices can overheat or have electrical faults even when not in active use.
Idle Appliances
Common culprits include TVs, cable boxes, printers, phone chargers and kitchen appliances. Even when powered down, these idle appliances consume electricity that shows up on your energy bill.
What is Always On? Always On is a measure of the base or basic usage of electricity in your home. Always On is comprised of appliances and electronic devices that are always plugged in and are consuming energy even when not being used.
The two appliances with the highest power requirements are typically: