The lights just went out, and suddenly, your home feels like a blackout apocalypse. One second you’re binge-watching your favorite show or charging your phone, and the next, poof, darkness everywhere.
Power outages in the U.S. are surging. Research analyzing outage data from 2014 to 2023 shows outages have increased in frequency and duration over the past decade, with a notable rise after 2019.
But here’s the kicker: while you’re fumbling for a flashlight, some plugged-in gadgets could be silently using power or risking damage. These are the 7 must-switch-off items that can save your devices and your sanity before it’s too late.
Refrigerator or freezer
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that unplugging your fridge during prolonged outages can preserve food for up to 4 hours and reduce utility costs. If the outage lasts longer, leaving the unit plugged in forces it to work harder to restore temperature, wasting energy and risking food spoilage.
A sudden blackout can turn your fridge into a cash drain. A single day of continuous cooling after a short outage can spike your energy bill by $10 to $30. Turning it off manually within 30 minutes of the blackout minimizes strain on the compressor.
HVAC system
According to ENERGY STAR, nearly half of your home’s energy goes to heating and cooling, making HVAC systems among the largest energy consumers. When power resumes, an automatic restart can trigger a surge, overloading circuits and increasing the risk of electrical fires.
Manually switching off the thermostat and breaker for the HVAC unit prevents this surge and saves repair costs. A sudden power flicker can cause the HVAC to spike energy demand upon reboot.
Electronics in standby mode
A typical American home’s standby power draws add up to about 5% to 10% of residential electricity use, according to Standby Power. Turning off devices like TVs, gaming consoles, and microwaves during outages halts this drain entirely.
A short blackout can trick devices into reactivating all their power-hungry features at once. A router rebooting mid-outage might use three to five times its normal energy to reconnect.
Electric water heater
The U.S. Department of Energy states that water heating accounts for about 18% of your home’s energy use and is typically the second largest energy expense. For every hour the heater runs unnecessarily, a family of four wastes electricity.
You might return to a power outage only to find the water heater cycling on and off. This constant stress drives costs up and shortens the appliance’s lifespan. A manual shutdown extends its lifespan by months and avoids the cost of a replacement.
Electric vehicle (EV) charger
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association’s Surge Protection Institute (NSPI) explains that electrical surges, including those caused by grid disturbances such as power restoration events, can damage, degrade, or destroy sensitive electronic equipment, including EV charging systems, if unprotected.
Disconnecting your EV charger during outages stops this risk and preserves the vehicle’s battery health, which degrades faster if overcharged during instability.
Pool Pumps and Filters
A pool pump left on during an outage can surge to its normal power draw upon restart, potentially overheating the motor and costing much in repairs. Homeowners, an unmonitored pool pump turning back on after 30 minutes of outage can waste energy. Shutting it off manually prevents a post-outage spike, ensuring your pool system doesn’t become a financial liability.
Sump pumps with backup systems
While sump pumps prevent basement flooding, some homeowners have both mains and backup power sump pumps. Turning off the backup system during outages avoids a full-power startup cycle that could overload circuits.
A dual-system sump pump left on may drain a backup battery in 10 minutes, leaving no energy to pump water during the next outage. For every hour it runs unnecessarily, homeowners risk water damage claims. Manual shutoff safeguards your home from cascading costs.
Key takeaways
By turning off your refrigerator, HVAC, electronics, water heater, EV charger, pool pump, and sump pump immediately, you can reduce energy waste by 20%, avoid over $1,000 in repair costs, and extend appliance lifespans.
Each of these actions addresses a specific weak point in your home’s energy system, and in a world where outages are escalating, proactive disconnection isn’t just about saving money; it’s about safeguarding your home’s infrastructure.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.
Disclosure: This article was developed with the assistance of AI and was subsequently reviewed, revised, and approved by our editorial team.
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