Does unplugging appliances save electricity? You may always wonder whether your appliances and gadgets are consuming or wasting energy, even when they are not being used. Or, maybe you don’t think that unplugging all of your devices is worth the hassle of saving a small amount of electricity.
In fact, unplugging appliances could save you from $100 to $200 a year. It can also prevent power surges from occurring. So, maybe unplugging your devices is worth it.
Should You Unplug Your Devices to Save Electricity?
Modern households are filled with appliances and devices. Consider your kitchen with the toaster, microwave, coffee machine, and kettle all sitting on the counter. In the living room, think of the television, gaming consoles, mobile phone chargers, and computer that are plugged in.
It would likely take you a long time to count all of the appliances and devices that are plugged in in your home. These appliances do use a small amount of energy, but a home full of devices can add up to a not so small amount on your bill.
According to a study, one appliance that constantly consumes one watt of electricity can add up to a cost of $1 every year. Consider how many appliances you constantly have plugged in at home. The annual cost of small appliance electricity use in the average home amounts to between $100 and $200 or the cost of a month’s electricity bill.
Consider purchasing a portable electricity monitor if you are wondering how much energy each of your small appliances and devices are consuming when they are not being used. The monitor will tell you how many watts each appliance is using, allowing you to calculate how much you could save by unplugging them.
Appliance repair
Unplugging appliances can help to prolong the life of each device and prevent the necessity of repair. It is important to hire a professional appliance repair technician to fix any issues with an appliance early so that it does not cause any risk to you or your family.
Start a new habit
Once you have calculated how much you could save, you may have decided to unplug your devices more often. It can take a few weeks to establish a new habit, but for a saving of $200 a year, it is surely worth it.
Make sure to unplug your phone charger when you are not using it as it will continue to consume small amounts of energy even when your phone is not charging. Glance around your kitchen and unplug your coffee machine after you have had your morning brew.
It may also be helpful to install a new extension plug to allow for easy disconnection of multiple devices such as an entertainment center at once.
Further benefits
Unplugging devices and small appliances can also help to prevent power surges in your home. In households without a surge protection system, those devices that are constantly plugged in are susceptible to damage in the event of a power surge.
Smaller surges can often occur when a larger appliance is turned on, causing gradual wear to your other devices and decreasing their lifespan. You can always consult an appliance repair expert to find good ways to maintain your home appliance in the long run.
(Syndicated press content)
