Since Halloween’s in the air, let’s talk about something spooky: vampire electronics. These everyday gadgets quietly suck electricity (and money) when you’re not using them.
They’re called “phantom loads” or “standby power,” and they’re everywhere from your cable box to your soundbar to your printer. Even when they’re “off,” they’re drawing power.
The Department of Energy says this ghost power costs the average household $165 a year. That’s not nothing.
🧄 Use the tech garlic
You can hunt these energy vampires with a device called a Kill A Watt. It’s a plug-in meter that shows exactly how much power something’s using whether it’s running, idle or supposedly off.
It’s super easy to use. Simply plug your gadget into the Kill A Watt, plug that into the wall, and boom, instant readout. You’ll find out fast which “off” things are actually draining juice.
So what should you check first? Start with the sneaky stuff:
- TVs, cable boxes, game consoles
- Microwaves and coffee makers with digital clocks
- Chargers plugged in with nothing attached
- Smart speakers and smart home hubs
- Laptops that never fully shut down
You don’t need to check your fridge or Wi-Fi router. This isn’t frontier living.
Want to go all out? Snag a smart home energy monitor system that hooks directly to your circuit breaker. They cost a bit more, but they’ll save you even more money. I found a great one that’s $70 off right now.
🦇 Slay your energy vampires
Yank the plug, or better yet, use a power strip with on/off switches. These ones with a flat plug are top-rated and 25% off. One flip and you’ll drive a stake through a whole row of vampires.
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