There are so many appliances in properties these days that homeowners might be surprised at how many devices they have plugged into their home that they don’t need to have when they stop to think about it.
Then there are appliances like refrigerators and freezers that should never be turned off. They’re constantly consuming electricity, and aside from making sure you have energy-efficient models, there’s little you can do to reduce their power consumption other than opening them as infrequently as possible.
For those going on holiday for the rest of the summer or simply trying to save as much money as possible on their utility bills, Ian Palmer-Smith, household and general appliance expert, has identified the ‘worst appliances’ that households should ‘never leave on standby’ – and he’s answered some frequently asked questions .
He noted that leaving certain devices plugged in is likely to consume electricity, which is the last thing anyone needs during a cost-of-living crisis.
But that’s not all, as most of the time these accessories also need to be unplugged for maximum energy savings.
Ian said: “Some people think that just switching them off is enough, but many electrical appliances continue to use power when left on – these are often referred to as ‘vampire appliances’.
The home appliance guru said that “the most common vampire appliances found in homes” are washing machines, dishwashers, tumble dryers, televisions and microwave ovens.
He further explained that computer monitors, printers, and coffee makers are also among the “most energy-sucking devices.”
Many households may wonder why these devices are the most expensive to leave on standby.
Ian explained: “Appliances that need to heat water use a lot of energy, which is why dishwashers and washing machines use so much energy.
“They consume more energy than others in standby mode because they have to be ready to heat water immediately as needed.”
These devices should be completely disconnected from the mains or at least turned off at the plug, because simply turning them off with the remote control or screen still consumes electricity.
The expert clarified: “Any device that is still on or that remains plugged into a live outlet uses electricity.
“Even in sleep or standby mode, some items still use energy to update, connect to remote servers, and store data. The only way to make sure you’re not using energy is to unplug or unplug it.”
However, there are some household appliances that “should never be turned off”, despite their high electricity consumption.
Ian warned: “Although the fridge-freezer accounts for around 12 per cent of a household’s electricity bill, you shouldn’t switch it off or unplug it before you go on holiday as it causes the fridge to melt and can also cause a smelly kitchen.”
An expert has suggested an alternative way to turn them off for those who have fixed the devices. Ian said: “Standby savers or energy saving plugs work with remote controls. The device prevents power from going through the socket to the device. So they are handy if sockets are in hard to reach places.”
If households want to ensure all their appliances are switched off in standby mode and not using vampire power, unplugging them is the “best bet”, according to energy experts at Ovo Energy.
They said: “Plugs with an unplugged charger draw a little power, but the amount is very small. If there is nothing plugged in, it will not use electricity even if it is on.”
