Three household devices you should never unplug – here’s why
With energy saving a priority for many households, unplugging appliances when they are not in use seems an obvious way to cut bills. However, keeping certain electronics plugged in can save you money and reduce hassle over time.
Why unplugging OLED televisions can be risky
Modern OLED televisions have an automatic pixel optimisation routine that starts every time the set is switched off. That process runs for 12 to 15 minutes and is important to prevent permanent burn-in or image retention. If you pull the plug before the cycle finishes, you risk irreversible screen damage. With a panel life of up to 100,000 hours, which is roughly 55 years if you watch five hours a day, it’s usually best to leave an OLED TV plugged in so it can complete its optimisation and keep performing well.
The hidden costs of unplugging inkjet printers
Inkjet printers might look idle when switched off, but if you keep unplugging them you can end up wasting ink. Every time they power up they run an ink‑cleaning cycle that uses extra ink and wears cartridges down faster. That frequent cycling also raises the risk of clogged or dried‑out printheads and can increase start‑up times when you need to print quickly. The better approach is to turn the printer off with its power button rather than unplugging it.
Why turning routers off can cause problems
Switching routers off every night to save power might sound sensible, but it can make your network less reliable. Power‑cycling routers often causes connected devices, security systems, smart thermostats and baby monitors, for example, to lose their connections. Important settings and updates can be lost too, meaning you will spend time reconfiguring things. Over time, the energy spent repeatedly restarting a router can surpass what you save by turning it off. For homes that rely on connected gear, keeping routers powered supports steady performance.
Devices made to stay plugged in
Some devices, such as router‑modems, OLED TVs and printers, are designed to stay plugged in. That design protects sensitive components and helps avoid premature wear. Constant restarts and power cycling can cause faults and unwanted energy spikes. In many cases, these electronics actually work more efficiently when left powered up.
Losing settings and other hidden costs
Completely disconnecting devices can also wipe settings and data. Printers may need reconfiguring, routers can lose their connections, and smart home systems can stop working properly. The real cost here is the extra time and effort (and sometimes money) spent getting everything back to normal, or even paying for repairs or replacements. A steady power supply and a stable connection are necessary for many smart home setups to run smoothly.
What I learned from unplugging everything
From personal experience: I once unplugged all my kit to save energy and ended up with a printer that started to fail, a TV with permanent screen marks and network problems that occasionally made working from home impossible. Leaving devices turned on and letting them do their maintenance routines has given me much more peace of mind and fewer nasty surprises. The urge to save power can sometimes lead to greater losses in time and money.
Protecting your home electronics sensibly means saving energy without causing costly repairs or unnecessary downtime. Knowing that modern devices like OLED TVs, inkjet printers and Wi‑Fi routers often benefit from a steady power supply helps you decide which appliances are actually fine to unplug. Make informed choices and you can reduce the hidden costs of frequent power cycling and help your gear last longer.