Why unplug appliances when not in use

To be on the safe side, at least unplug your computer during a storm. One gadget you can definitely leave plugged in — and should probably have more of — is smart power strips. If you flip the switch on the power strip, power will be cut off to all your devices.

But that also prevents phantom power usage. Group Created with Sketch. Back to Trulia's Blog. Unplug it! This glut of stand-by appliances also presents a fire hazard, even when not in use. Though human error plays a role, studies by Consumer Reports show only about half of appliance fires are attributable to human mistakes — the rest due to issues with the appliances themselves.

From to , more than 15 million appliances were recalled by the CPSC and manufacturers for defects that could result in fire. Of all the appliances you are surrounded by in your home, which should you unplug — and why? Top safety offenders include:. Go unplugged for savings and safety today. Both refer to the fact that electronics and appliances use small amounts of electricity around the clock, even when they are not in use.

Unplugging them can therefore save electricity. It is also safer than leaving them plugged in: an un-plugged toaster, for example, can not start a fire.

But having to unplug so many devices can be a cumbersome exercise. This inevitably brings us to an im-portant question:. The answer might surprise you. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory says the average American home has around 40 devices that constantly use electricity. While the individual power consumption of any of these devices is very small, combined these inactive but plugged in devices can account for up to 10 percent of household energy consumption.

If you consider the host of small appliances sitting on the typical kitchen counter, the numerous electronics in most entertainment centers and the collection of small chargers it takes to power mobile devices for an entire household, you might count more than 20 plugs before you even get to the major appliances. So while energy vampires do consume small amounts of electricity, a whole house full of them can add up to a noticeable amount on your monthly electric bill.

How much money can you save when you unplug appliances? Plug one of these devices into an outlet, then plug each appliance into it one by one with the appliance turned off.