4 Reasons You Should Unplug Your Appliances at Night
Most of us leave appliances and chargers plugged in overnight or when its not in use or is left unattended without thinking, but doing so could be costing you more than you realise and could also be putting your family at risk.
A good mantra to go by is, if its not in use, unplug it, or perhaps, if in doubt, pull it out.
#1. Prevent Electrical Fires
Faulty, old, fake or damaged electrical appliances, equipment, power supplies and chargers could pose a fire risk, if it is unplugged then the risk is removed.
Unplug or Switch it Off
The recommendation is to unplug it rather than just switching it off at the socket, this is because of these two main reasons,
- The switches on many socket-outlets only switches the live conductor and not the neutral, therefore, to be sure the appliance is completely electrically isolated unplug it.
- The switch on the socket could be broken.
Can’t Access the Socket?
If for example a kitchen appliance is an integral appliance, the socket may not be accessible, in this scenario there should be a dedicated local isolator which you can switch off, to find your local isolator see → Isolation for Kitchen Appliances.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service reports,
One of the most common causes of fires in the home is faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, and malfunctioning appliances. We are also seeing a rise in fires involving e-bikes, e-scooters and lithium batteries. Domestic appliances including dish washers, tumble driers, cooking appliances and washing machines are a common source of ignition.
They also warn that,
These types of fires can spread rapidly, igniting nearby materials, which make them difficult to extinguish quickly. Electrical products also contain many different types of materials. When these burn, they can produce a variety of toxic fumes and gases.
Source: https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/at-home/electrical-safety/
On that note, when was the last time you tested your smoke alarms? – “Test all your smoke alarms today“.
5 Preventable Common Causes of Electrical Fires in the Home
- Unattended hair straighteners/tongs left on.
- Battery chargers left plugged in (including phone chargers).
- Faulty white goods (washing machines, tumble dryers etc.).
- Faulty DC power supplies and adapters.
- Overcharging/faulty Lithium batteries.
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue reports,
Leaving small electrical devices on charge overnight has been the cause of multiple house fires in recent years, so we are urging people to ‘Unplug to Unwind’.
Source: https://www.dwfire.org.uk/safety/safety-at-home/unplug-to-unwind/
Unplug appliances to prevent fires.
#2. Prevention of Damage from Power Surges
Power surges can destroy electrical appliances and electronic devices.
A power surge can be caused by a number of factors beyond your control, such as lightning strikes, after a power cut, electricity supply network faults, or if you live near a heavy industrial area.
A power surge could occur at any time of day or night, hence the mantra, if its not in use, unplug it. A power surge can also have the potential to start a fire.
How much would it cost (not to mention the inconvenience) to replace all your expensive electronic devices such as TV’s, computers and white goods. Is this covered by your home insurance? – Check the small print.
To help mitigate the risks of a power surge for devices which you really don’t want to (or can’t) unplug, such as fridge freezers, WIFI routers, TV set-top recording boxes, smoke alarms, CCTV and the like, a Surge Protection Device (SPD) can be installed by a registered Electrician, for further details on SPD’s see → SPD Surge Protection Devices – Types & Uses.
Unplug appliances to prevent them being destroyed by a power surge.
#3. Save Money
Many appliances will still consume energy even when its not in use, such as TV’s, radios and smart devices or even a phone charger left plugged in but not actually charging anything.
Smart Devices
With more and more electrical appliances and white goods becoming “smart” (i.e. they connect to your WIFI and send data back and forth via the internet), these “smart” appliances will likely be drawing power to power its smart controls and WIFI receiver.
If an appliance or device can be controlled via an app, then we assume the appliance must be constantly listening and waiting for a command or instruction to be sent to it from the app via the internet or Bluetooth, therefore consuming power?
Even many dishwashers and washing machines now can connect the internet and be controlled via an app, not sure why they would need that function, but many do. Maybe they are reporting back how often you use them, on what days and at what time? – Who knows.
Phantom Loads
A phantom load is the electricity consumed by devices when they are turned off or in standby mode.
Many electronics, such as televisions, game consoles, and microwaves, are designed to be instantly accessible and remain in a low-power standby state.
Standby Mode
While some devices left on standby may only consume a small amount of power, if you add up all those devices and then calculate the cost over a 12 month period, you may be surprised on how much that adds up to.
Unplug appliances to save money.
#4. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Even small reductions in energy usage make a difference. When millions of households unplug appliances overnight, the total reduction in electricity demand can significantly lower carbon emissions — helping both your wallet and the planet.
Unplug appliances to reduce your carbon footprint.
Safety Recalls
Manufactures, Trading Standards and The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) regularly issue safety alerts and recalls for electrical appliances deemed to be dangerous, or potentially dangerous. Check if any of your appliances or electrical items are subject to a safety recall here → Electrical Safety Recalls.
Home Fire Safety Visits
Some Fire & Rescue Services offer a free Home Fire Safety Visit (sometimes referred to as a Safe and Well Visit), check with your local authority to see if you qualify.
It is also worth checking out this Online Home Fire Safety Check, supported by the National Fire Chiefs Council and Safelincs (Fire & Safety Solutions).
💡 Unplug to Stay Safe, Save Money & Help the Planet!
Most of us leave chargers and appliances plugged in overnight – but doing so could be costing you more than you realise. From preventing electrical fires to protecting your devices from power surges, saving on energy bills, and reducing your carbon footprint, unplugging is a simple habit that makes a big difference.
Remember: If it’s not in use, unplug it! – and don’t forget to test your smoke alarms.
