Vampire devices: Are you paying for power you aren’t even using?

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By Lucy Jenkins

23 Oct 2025

Let’s be honest, most of us leave a few gadgets humming away quietly in the background. The TV’s off but that little red light is still glowing, the Wi-Fi router is on 24/7 and there’s probably a phone charger permanently plugged in somewhere. But here’s the thing, even when you think you’ve switched them off, a lot of these devices are still sucking up electricity.

We want to help you save money and energy, so here are our top tips for spooky savings!

Vampire appliances

They might not bite, but they do drain your wallet. Vampire appliances, also called phantom loads, are everyday gadgets that keep using power while on standby. Think TVs, games consoles, routers and smart speakers. They look asleep, but they’re still awake enough to run up your electricity bill.

Studies suggest the average UK home could be wasting between £65 and £100 a year just by leaving things on standby. Some homes with more tech could waste closer to £250. That’s a couple of weeks of food shopping just disappearing into thin air!

Here are a few culprits and how much they might cost you each year:

TV on standby: around £4–£8

Broadband router: £12–£17
Game console: £5–£12
Chargers left plugged in: £3–£6 each

Add them all up and suddenly those glowing red dots don’t seem so harmless.

When should you switch off?

The simple rule is if it’s got a light on, it’s still using power.

TVs and set-top boxes – Flip the switch at the wall or use a power strip with a master switch.
Chargers – Once your phone or laptop hits 100%, unplug it. Even if nothing’s attached, a charger still sips electricity.
Smart gadgets – Some can’t just be unplugged (like your smart doorbell), but check which ones really need to stay connected.

If there’s nothing plugged into a socket, you don’t need to turn it off as the current stops flowing once the circuit’s broken.

Don’t unplug the fridge!

Of course, some appliances need to stay on! For example, fridges, freezers and anything keeping food fresh or your home safe. However, you can help them work smarter! Defrost your freezer if it’s frosty, keep the fridge between 3°C and 5°C and set the freezer to –18°C or lower. Efficient cooling means less wasted energy.

Bonus tip: Make technology work for you

You can fight back against the vampires!

Use smart plugs or timers to automatically turn off gadgets overnight.
Plug multiple devices into a power strip and flick one switch before bed.
Check your usage with a smart meter or plug-in energy monitor - it’s oddly satisfying to see how much you’re saving!

Energy saving habits

Switching things off at the wall won’t make you rich overnight, but it’s one of those “win-win” habits - it’s good for your bank balance and the planet.

So tonight, before you head to bed, take a quick look around. Those tiny standby lights? They’re little energy vampires. Flip the switch, save some cash and sleep easy knowing you’ve outsmarted them.