There are several practical reasons to unplug them when they’re not being used—especially if the charger is old, damaged, poorly made, overheating, or sitting somewhere that could expose it to damage.
So before you leave that charger plugged into the wall again, here are three reasons worth knowing.
1. A Charger Can Still Use a Small Amount of Electricity
The first reason is simple: a plugged-in charger is still connected to the electrical supply.
Even when your phone isn’t attached, the charger’s internal electronics may continue consuming a small amount of power.
This is sometimes called standby power, idle power, or vampire power.
The amount used by a modern, efficient charger is usually tiny.
You shouldn’t expect an unplugged phone charger to suddenly make your electricity bill skyrocket.
In fact, the energy consumed by one modern charger sitting idle is generally so small that it may be difficult to notice on a household electricity bill.
But consider how many devices are connected around a home.
Phone chargers.
Tablet chargers.
Laptop adapters.
Television equipment.
Game consoles.
Speakers.
Smart-home devices.
Appliances with standby functions.
Individually, many of these devices use relatively little power while idle.
Collectively, however, unnecessary standby consumption can add up.
That’s why energy-conscious households often develop a simple habit:
If something isn’t being used, unplug it.
The savings from one phone charger may be tiny.
The savings from changing dozens of unnecessary standby habits can be more meaningful over time.
There’s also another benefit.
Unplugging a charger makes it completely clear that the device isn’t receiving power.
You don’t have to wonder whether it’s warm, whether the outlet is working properly, or whether the adapter has developed a fault.
It’s simply disconnected.
