4 Home Appliances You Should Unplug When You're Not Home—They Could Be Costing You Money

Saving money on home essentials and utilities can be challenging since these are often unavoidable expenses.

However, reducing your utility bills might be easier than you think. Sometimes, it's as simple as unplugging a few appliances when you're not at home.

"On average, a homeowner wastes 35% of the power used in their home annually," says Daniel Mock, VP of Operations at Mister Sparky. "Some of this wasted energy comes from 'vampire' appliances, which use energy even when they are switched off."

We spoke with Mock and other energy-saving experts to identify which appliances could be costing you money by being plugged in while you're not using them.

Small Kitchen Appliances

These days, our kitchen countertops are often cluttered with small appliances, whether we use them every day or not.

Items like kettles, toasters, air fryers, coffee machines, and other small kitchen gadgets can still use energy when they're not in use. If you’re not already doing so, it's a good idea to unplug them when they're not needed.

"In the kitchen, pay attention to items with a digital display because they draw power, even when they’re off," says Clement Feng, VP of Product Management at Briggs & Stratton Energy Solutions.

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Non-Essential Smart Home Products and Entertainment Systems

Smart home devices have become an integral part of our lives, yet we often forget to turn them off, says Glenn Lewis, President of Mr. Appliance, a Neighborly company.

This even includes items like phone chargers.

If your phone isn’t actively charging, Lewis suggests unplugging the charger when it’s not in use.

"For smart home devices, unplug Alexa, Google Home, and any other items that don't serve an important purpose when you're away," Mock adds.

Lewis notes that it can be hard to tell what is actually using energy when it’s plugged in, but he offers a simple test.

"A quick way to check if something is using energy?" Lewis says. "Touch it. If it feels warm, even when it’s turned off, it’s still drawing power."

Lights

Most of us turn off our lights when we leave the house, but you can also be more mindful of using lights when you’re home as well.

"Getting into the habit of turning off the lights before leaving a room can help lower your energy consumption," says Bill Taylor, HVAC Contractor Manager at South Jersey Gas & Elizabethtown Gas.

Fans and Purifiers

Many people use fans or air purifiers throughout the year to keep their home cool and maintain air quality.

However, leaving these devices on when you’re not home isn't worth it and will cost you unnecessary money.

"All fans and purifiers should be turned off and unplugged before you head out on vacation," Mock says. "Most of the time, there's no need for them to be running and cooling a room when no one is home."

You likely have other appliances throughout your home that can benefit from being unplugged when you're away, and they might not be the ones you think.

"Overall, appliances can be deceiving because size doesn’t necessarily determine the amount of energy consumed," Feng says. "The best way to find out for sure is by conducting your own test with a power consumption meter."