When you guys leave for a trip say a week..do you unplug everything? I usually unplug and kill the breaker box for most things. Friend said it was a bit much.

Now that I have renters insurance...I'm like screw it! who cares...

1/13/2012 8:13:07 AM

I'll usually turn off most of my powerstrips at my entertainment center and computer desk. I leave the DVR plugged in and I leave my aquarium on too.

1/13/2012 8:17:41 AM

we have most of our stuff on timers

basically we got cheapos for the grow lights (orchids and bananas) and then got better ones and now awesome ones so we had tons laying around so we put most stuff that should be off completely at certain times... on timers.

1/13/2012 8:20:08 AM

gone for a long weekend? nah
gone for a week or more? usually

1/13/2012 8:24:25 AM

No idea. I've never been gone for more than a long weekend

I need a vacation

1/13/2012 8:36:27 AM

I usually unplug any wallwart transformers before I leave for more than a few days. My water heater also gets put on its "vacation" setting and the heat/AC gets turned down. I leave my computer(s) and network equipment plugged up so I can access them remotely though.

1/13/2012 9:15:15 AM

I did this until I purchased a kill-a-watt unit and realized it was a complete and total waste of time (at least in my situation.) With my cell and tablet chargers, TV, Roku, PS3 and speaker system it pulled a vampire load of like 3 watts. Which translated into pennies per month... Leaving my porch light on (which is a high efficiency LED) was pulling 2-3x more power.

You can make a good argument for cutting things like the hot water heater off; but if it's indoors like mine that lost heat is just going to heat your home.

However; you'd be crazy to not turn down the heat and do things like make sure unused devices are at least put into standby. And there are some items that don't really have a standby - like your cable box or laser printer - I might unplug one of those. My dads cable box pulled over 100 watts when it was "off" but I don't own anything like that.

1/13/2012 9:29:05 AM

I unplug my tv/cable/modem and everything everyday before I leave for work and at night when I go to bed. I've seen a huge savings in electricity since starting. All of my "vampire electronics" only get plugged in when is use.

1/13/2012 9:38:53 AM

Husband unplugs everything, and flips off some of our large appliances in the fuse box. I think it's a bit much. I unplug the electric blanket and call it a day.

1/13/2012 9:39:39 AM

I want to say I'll access my computer remotely...but I'll be in vegas...everything is going to get shut off...and the heater will be down at 50 degrees

1/13/2012 10:16:15 AM

I pull the breaker on the water heater anytime I'm gone for more than a couple days. I may unplug the TVs and DVD players if I'm gone for like a week.

1/13/2012 10:31:06 AM

I leave everything plugged in and don't mess with the thermostat.

1/13/2012 10:38:31 AM

the only thing I turn off is hvac. I very often connect to my pc remotely and use my slingbox. my outdoor lights are on photocells thus always "on" everything else plugged in besides appliances is on UPS/power conditioners

1/13/2012 10:58:14 AM

I leave pretty much everything plugged in. I always adjust the thermostat though.

1/13/2012 11:06:30 AM

How often do you guys leave home for a week or more?

1/13/2012 11:10:39 AM

Quote :

"I leave pretty much everything plugged in. I always adjust the thermostat though."

1/13/2012 11:13:27 AM

Quote :

"How often do you guys leave home for a week or more?"

3-4 times per year

1/13/2012 11:50:44 AM

I'm gone for 3 out 7 days and I unplug everything weekly

1/13/2012 11:54:39 AM

duhhhh dont you read the advertisements on the bus about PHANTOM CHARGE? something about it accounting for 14% of energy use. (phantom charge is when your tv and shit is off but still consuming power.)

1/13/2012 11:55:50 AM

Yes. Electronics draw power even when off

1/13/2012 11:58:22 AM

I unplug a lot of things when they're not in use - kitchen appliances (including the microwave), lamps, etc. I try to use the heat/ac as little as possible and turn it off when I leave for work.

When I leave for a trip, almost everything gets unplugged.

1/13/2012 11:58:48 AM

nope

1/13/2012 12:02:08 PM

I'll unplug the big/expensive stuff (entertainment units, PC stuff, etc) mostly for power surges, or occasionally just flip the breaker for the circuits that don't include HVAC, water heater, or refrigerator.

but my main thing is unplugging the garage door opener and zip-tying the door down on the rails...I came home after being gone for a week one time and my garage door was wide open putting my $7k bike and thousands in tools, parts, and equipment on display for everyone. Scared the shit out of me, but nothing was gone somehow. Still not sure how it happened but that's the last time it'll happen by god

1/13/2012 12:04:37 PM

I do this with just about everything except our DVR box and major appliances; however, we do it on an everyday basis, not just if we are going out of town. We have the Belkin strips that have two-position remotes such that you can turn the whole strip on or off for things like all the TVs and the computer and modem+router setup etc.. For example, the TV is never drawing any power unless it is actually in use. That plus programmable thermostats of course.

Might seem like overkill but our power bills are very low for the size house we have compared to most people I know who don't do it. The cost wasn't really that high and it has certainly paid for itself.

[Edited on January 13, 2012 at 12:08 PM. Reason : ]

1/13/2012 12:07:08 PM

turn heat/ac off when not home

unplug vampire items when not in use only if i plan to use AC that day

AC set to 76 in summer, heat 63 when awake and 60 at night

[Edited on January 13, 2012 at 12:16 PM. Reason : .]

1/13/2012 12:08:17 PM

I do not even turn the Keurig off, if someone breaks in they can have instant hot coffee.

1/13/2012 1:25:13 PM

i heat my house and cook with fire

1/13/2012 1:36:06 PM

If I'm going out of town for more than a day or two, I'll unplug stuff. It has more to do with my fire paranoia than desire to save electricity, though.

1/13/2012 2:30:00 PM

i don't unplug a damn thing.

1/13/2012 2:55:30 PM