5 Household Appliances That Use the Most Energy—Even When You're Not Using Them Because "off" doesn’t always mean off. Close Credit: Grace Cary / Getty Images You might think that turning off your appliances stops them from consuming electricity—but that’s not always the case. Many devices continue to draw power even when they seem to be off, silently adding to the cost of your monthly energy bill. These appliances are known as "energy vampires," and understanding which items use the most energy in standby mode can help you save money. “An energy vampire is not just any device plugged in and not being used,” Megan Doser, owner and CEO of Doctor Fix It, explains. “Some things, like lamps and phone chargers, don’t draw power even when they are off. But others, like smart speakers, microwaves, and coffee makers, do draw power even if they are not in use. These are energy vampires." To get the full scoop, we spoke with three energy and home maintenance experts who explained which devices are the worst offenders and how to potentially curb their energy drain. Megan Doser, owner and CEO at Doctor Fix It Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric Aaron Adams, master plumber and CEO of Aaron Services: Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Ryan Gregor, owner and head electrician at RCG Electrical 8 Household Appliances You Don't Need to Unplug After Every Use 01 of 05 Tank Water Heaters One of the worst energy vampires? The hallowed tank water heater. Master plumber Aaron Adams says that these major household appliances are constantly working to keep large amounts of water hot and ready for you to use. "Older tank water heaters are even bigger vampires, as they generally have a layer of sediment in them that sits between the heating elements of the water heater and the water itself," Adams explains. "This means that the tank water heater has to use even more energy to heat the water inside of it, again, around the clock." Electric tank water heaters can use up to 4,000 watts when heating (you can find how many watts your specific heater uses by checking the label), and their constant standby energy can surpass even computers running all day. Adams recommends considering energy-efficient tankless water heaters, which only heat water on demand, eliminating unneeded standby power. "Older models also don't have the more up-to-date energy-efficient features that newer water heaters have," he notes. 02 of 05 TVs Credit: Carlina Teteris / Getty Images Televisions might seem harmless when turned off, but their standby mode draws power to allow for instant-on functionality. According to Ryan Gregor, owner and head electrician at RCG Electrical, a TV can draw between five and 30 watts even when it's off. And although it sounds like a small amount, if you have multiple television sets, it can quickly compound. “That constant low-level draw adds up,” he says. 03 of 05 Microwaves Microwaves are one of the most common kitchen appliances that suck up tons of energy; yours could be using up to four watts when in standby mode, especially if it isn’t a newer model. “They continue pulling power even after the job is done,” Doser says. “Things with clocks and always-on displays are the main standby power vampires.” Choosing simpler microwave models without digital displays can reduce your energy use and lower the household’s phantom electricity drain. 10 Foods You Should Never Reheat in the Microwave—and Why 04 of 05 Smart Speakers onurdongel / Getty Images. Since smart speakers are designed to remain connected to Wi-Fi so they can respond to voice commands around the clock, Doser notes that these devices are using energy even if they're switched off. "They are still drawing power even when they are switched off because their displays, sensors, or Wi-Fi connections stay active in the background," she explains. Even though each device may only draw a few watts, households with multiple smart devices can see energy loss over time. (For example, the Amazon Echo uses three watts when in standby mode.) 05 of 05 Wi-Fi Routers Wi-Fi routers never truly turn off since they maintain connectivity for your entire home. Depending on your model (old, new, or mesh routers), you may be using up to 20 watts of power. Using smart power strips, unplugging your devices when they aren’t in use, or upgrading to energy-efficient models can significantly reduce unnecessary energy consumption. Explore more: Home