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Unveiling the 6 Devices Secretly Draining Your Wallet Each Month

"Many people mistakenly believe that electrical appliances don't consume power when they are switched off. But is this really the case? Let's investigate and uncover the truth!"

Administrator

6 September, 2024

Even when they’re turned off, the devices in your home can still consume electricity. In fact, some appliances like phone chargers and digital controls can still consume a significant amount of energy. So they also “eat up” a not-so-small amount of your monthly budget!

Let’s find out what these devices are and how to fix them right away!

1Phone Chargers

Leaving your phone charger plugged into the wall outlet even when it’s not charging any device will still consume a certain amount of electricity.

It is estimated that a phone charger can consume an additional 1.2 W/day, resulting in a higher monthly bill due to this “secret culprit”. So remember to unplug the charger from the outlet when your phone is fully charged!

2TV

Turning off your TV with the remote control only puts it in standby mode, not turning it off completely. Therefore, the TV still consumes a certain amount of electricity if you don’t unplug it. Experiments have shown that it can be more than 24W/day.

To avoid this, always unplug the TV from the power outlet after turning it off with the remote control.

Note: Unplugging the power cord suddenly can damage the TV, and unplugging the power when the TV is still on can cause electrical shorts.

3Computers

Desktop and laptop computers will still run in the background, even when you turn them off with the “Turn off” command.

These devices use an average of 96W of electricity per day, so the total electricity consumption for the whole family will increase due to this “wasted” electricity for each computer in the house. Moreover, this number will be even higher if you have the habit of leaving your computer in standby mode.

The solution is to unplug the computer or laptop from the power outlet after it has been turned off.

4Wi-Fi Router

Wi-Fi routers are now common in every household. Since they are usually kept on 24/7, they also contribute significantly to energy consumption.

A Wi-Fi router consumes between 2W – 20W. If we take the average power consumption of 6W, this device will consume about 368kWh if left on for a year. Multiplying this by the average electricity price of 1,500 VND/kWh, you will have to pay more than 550,000 VND for electricity.

To save energy, it is best to turn off the router at night when you go to sleep!

5Appliances with Timers

Appliances with timers include: washing machines, ovens, microwaves, induction cookers, rice cookers, etc.

These appliances have built-in displays, which, although small, can use up to 108W of electricity per day, as they not only display the time but also maintain a connection to the entire system of the appliance.

Be sure to unplug these appliances when not in use to save money on your electricity bill!

6Air Conditioners

Air conditioners typically consume a lot of electricity, but many people don’t realize that this appliance still consumes a significant amount of electricity, equivalent to a light bulb, even after being turned off with the remote control.

Experts recommend that you completely disconnect the power supply after using the air conditioner. This not only saves electricity but also helps maintain the durability and longevity of the appliance.

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Hopefully, with the information shared in this article, you can now save a significant amount of money by adjusting the way you use these “hidden” electricity-consuming devices in your household!

Frequently asked questions

There are several devices that may be costing you money without you realizing it. These include older appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, and dryers, as well as always-on devices like gaming consoles and certain smart home devices.

You can start by checking your energy bills and looking for any unusual spikes in usage. You can also use a power meter to measure the energy consumption of individual devices, which will help you identify the culprits.

There are a few things you can try. Firstly, consider upgrading older appliances to more energy-efficient models. You can also unplug devices when they’re not in use, or use power strips to easily turn off multiple devices at once. Additionally, look for energy-saving settings on devices like gaming consoles and computers.

Yes, certain smart home devices that are always listening or connected to the internet can use a significant amount of energy. These include smart speakers, smart displays, and always-on security cameras. Consider adjusting their settings to reduce energy usage, such as setting them to only activate when needed.

In addition to managing your devices, you can take some simple steps like using natural light during the day instead of artificial lighting, and sealing gaps around doors and windows to improve insulation and reduce the need for heating or cooling.