Forgetting To Unplug These 14 Appliances Before Leaving For A Trip Is A Big Mistake

You pack your bags, use an unexpected hack to keep your houseplants watered while you're away, get your road trip playlist sorted, and flip your vacation mode on as you move out your front door. But in your desperation to leave behind the hustle and bustle of daily life, you might be forgetting a pretty important step: unplugging your power-hungry appliances, like the washing machine, dryer, chargers of all kinds, toasters, and your lovely coffee machine. This is important because such devices keep on siphoning a small amount of energy even if the switch is in the "off" position.

While this phantom load, also known as vampire power or standby power, may not sound like a big deal in the grand scheme of things, it'll impact your electricity bills. Plus, any disturbances or surges in the electrical power flow can damage your appliances or lead to unwarranted fires. In extreme circumstances, such fires may even burn your house down while you're away. So, don't simply reply on your appliances' auto shut-off mechanism and make sure to unplug them before you lock the door behind you. Interested in knowing which appliances you must unplug before leaving? Here's a list of the 14 most common devices. Hint: You'll find most of them in your kitchen.

You should unplug your washer and dryer before leaving for vacation since these appliances consume power even when the switch is turned off. This is because these devices need to remain prepared to heat water in an instant when they're turned on. Plus, the accumulation of lint inside dryers can lead to unwarranted fires. So, you should try to clean it before you leave. You also want to turn off the water supply to these devices, or you might come home to a tiny (or large, depending on the extent of damage) pool of water in your laundry room.

Another appliance you should unplug before walking out the door is your dishwasher. This is because sudden power cuts, electrical surges, or uneven energy flow could hurt your device in your absence. But when there is no power flow to the device, there is no risk of it damage. Similar to the washer and dryer, you also want to turn off the water supply to the appliance. The tiniest of leaks can be hazardous to the device and your kitchen. Moreover, follow this dishwasher tip before going on vacation: leave the door slightly open to avoid mold and odors.

Do you like munching on the crispy pieces of bread your toaster pops up ever so dependently? If yes, then you obviously won't want it to get damaged while you're away, right? So, make it a point to unplug your toaster(s) before you leave for your trip. The logic behind this is that unexpected power surges can prove hazardous to the heating element in the appliance and shorten its lifespan. Worse, if the element is sporting grease or food buildup, it could lead to unwarranted fire hazards while you're away sipping Mai Tais on a beach.

You might have heard repeatedly that you should keep your air fryer unplugged when it's not in use. But what's the reason behind that? Do you really need to remember to remove its plug from the socket after you prepare your airport meal? The answer is yes. This is because even if the switch is turned off, the device will continue to consume energy. Granted, although it'll draw less power than it does when it's actively in use, you don't want to risk a fire in case the appliance malfunctions or there's abrupt upheaval in the power grid.

You might be in love with the Keurig you bought from your first paycheck. After all, what's a better way to reward all your years of toil and tears than drinking a winning cup of coffee every morning? However, if you want to continue doing that, don't forget to unplug it when you go on your yearly scheduled vacation. This is because the wires in your coffee maker might get frayed and the inside elements might soften after years of service. This can lead to unwarranted fires and put your home at risk in your absence.

If you love pretending you're on the magnificent sets of "Downton Abbey" every time you sip a precious cup of Earl Grey (seriously, Chai Tea Latte is so mainstream) and judge "simpletons," chances are you have an electric kettle at home to make your life easier. However, leaving it plugged-in while you're away can prove hazardous. For starters, it'll continue to siphon power even when it's off. Plus, if you accidentally leave the switch on, the device might overheat (if the auto shut-off mechanism malfunctions and doesn't cut the power supply in time) and hurt the heating element.

A refrigerator is one of the most important appliances in your home. How else will you keep your myriad cooking supplies and leftover food fresh? Moreover, you need the appliance to turn plain water into cool ice, especially on hot summer days. So, it stands to reason that you might leave it plugged in behind your back, right? After all, you don't want the meat or sauces to go bad. Unfortunately, electrical issues, short circuits, and inclement weather (like thunderstorms) can wreak havoc on your appliance and damage it. So, empty your fridge and freezer and unplug the appliance when you'll be gone for a while.

You might not think to unplug your TV when you go on a trip. Surely, your expensive flat screen won't suffer any damage while you're away. But what if the weather turns on a dime and you can't get home on time? Or, there's some electrical disturbance at play and you're none the wiser? You don't want an accidental fire to break out. This is why it's best to unplug your television when you're not home. Besides, this simple step will sever the heat connection between your TV and the outlet, which will minimize wear and tear of your device and elongate its lifespan.

Microwaves use a considerable amount of energy (1200 watts of electricity every hour they're on, to be precious) to cook and heat your food. That being said, the number ranges from 2 to 7 watts of electricity every hour when it's plugged in, but the power button is off. This keeps its built-in clock ticking and its memory intact. Although tiny in comparison to the power it draws actively, this power consumption should not be overlooked, as it could lead to fire hazards or damage the appliance under the right (or wrong, depending on how you look at it) circumstances.

A space heater is an indispensable home appliance, especially if you experience bitter winters or live at a higher altitude. But they're a double-edged sword. This is because these nifty devices produce a lot of heat (duh!) and draw a significant amount of power to keep your interior toasty. And they keep consuming energy even when you turn them off before going on a beachy vacation. This can lead to fires — the chances of which go up dramatically during power surges and device malfunctions. Case in point, a National Fire Protection Agency research study found that portable models are responsible for 44% of home heating equipment fires.

If you enjoy cooking and take any opportunity to mimic the new dish you come across on social media, your top-of-the-line gas or electric range might be your pride and joy. However, it's important to remember that it must be used judiciously since one wrong move has the power to set your house aflame (you're not alone if you're getting flashbacks to "Annabelle"). In other words, don't leave your stove plugged in when you go away for an extended period. This will minimize the chances of it being subject to electric failures and causing a fire to break out.

Plug-in fragrance diffusers are a great way to make your home smell nice without much effort on your part. And, if you get too used to them, you might even be tempted to leave them on when you go on vacation. After all, why wouldn't you want your house to smell like your favorite flower mix when you come back after a month rather than the musty odor of a closed home? But don't give in to the temptation if you don't want your interiors to give off too strong a smell in case the heat or motor fails.

Although essential, chargers are oftentimes overlooked when looking for appliances to unplug before your big vacation. Still, it's important to be cognizant of them and remove them from the wall socket, or they might overheat in your absence. This is all the more vital for your phone, laptop, or tablet chargers, as drawing more power than necessary will shorten their lifespan. The same goes for any chargers that are quite old. Besides, they might catch fire and are a potential fire hazard, so they should be treated as such.

Although you might think that leaving your air purifiers on while you're on a trip will maintain a clean atmosphere in your home, it simply isn't necessary. On the one hand, they'll constantly draw a small amount of power and add to your already high electricity bills. On the other hand, they pose a fire risk in case your power supply system goes haywire. So, it's necessary to unplug them. The same goes for the portable fans on your workstation or in your living room — unplug them before you lock the door on your way out.