Why It Is Essential to Unplug Your Devices Before Leaving
We all know this: turning off a device is not the same as unplugging it. A television on standby, a coffee machine with its screen dimly lit, a connected speaker awaiting commands—all these devices continue to draw electricity even when you’re not at home.
According to data from Ademe, devices in standby mode can account for up to 15% of the electricity bill, excluding heating and hot water. In a well-equipped household, this can exceed 100 euros annually. Beyond this additional financial burden, a plugged-in device remains vulnerable to power surges, especially during summer thunderstorms. Therefore, it is advisable to minimize this risk during your two-week vacation.
The Five Essential Devices to Unplug Before Leaving Your Home
The Television and Game Consoles Television sets, TV boxes, consoles, soundbars—all these pieces of equipment stay on standby when not in use, ready to power back on quickly. If you have multiple screens at home, the accumulated standby consumption rises rapidly. A practical tip: gather them all onto a power strip equipped with a switch and turn them off all at once with a single action.
Kitchen Appliances Coffee machines, microwaves, toasters, food processors, kettles—these appliances often remain plugged in year-round, even when you go on holiday. Yet, leaving them unnecessarily plugged in costs money. For example, an espresso machine left plugged in causes an extra cost of 3 to 4 euros per year. Multiply this amount by several devices, and the expense becomes significant.
Electric Blankets If you use an electric blanket in winter, never leave it plugged in before leaving. Even when turned off, it remains connected to the power supply and consumes energy. The best practice is to unplug it completely and store it flat, taking care not to bend the cable too much. It’s simple, quick, and always worthwhile.
Bluetooth and Connected Speakers Small and discreet, these speakers are often forgotten. However, they consume electricity to stay on standby or to reconnect to Wi-Fi. Also, do not forget chargers and docking stations: unplugging them eliminates those small invisible consumptions that add up over time.
Bathroom Devices Hairdryers, straighteners, curling irons, heated brushes—there is no reason for these devices to remain plugged into an unoccupied bathroom for several days. Wait for them to cool down, unplug them, and store them away in a drawer.
The Power Strip with a Switch: Your Best Ally Before Leaving
Unplugging a dozen sockets located behind a TV cabinet can quickly become tedious. The most practical solution? A power strip with a switch. By grouping your devices onto one, a single click is enough to cut power to the entire set. It’s an ideal option for the television corner, the office, or even small kitchen appliances.
However, it is important not to overload this power strip with high-power devices. For enhanced protection, choose a surge protector model that also guards against power surges during your absence.
Just one button, and you can leave with peace of mind and reassurance.
