3 appliances you do not need to unplug during a heatwave – it won't save money or cool rooms

During a hot weather spell, attention often turns to keeping your house cool and saving money on AC energy costs.

Experts usually recommend unplugging appliances to save money and avoid unnecessary danger, but what about the ones that actually don't need unplugging, no matter the weather?

Here, appliance experts share their tips on which appliances it's fine to skip the hassle of unplugging and plugging back in, and why.

3 appliances you do not need to unplug in a heatwave

As David Miloshev, appliance expert at Fantastic Services, warns, 'Knowing which appliances in your home you shouldn’t unplug during a heatwave is very important.

'This isn’t solely a case for energy consumption but also because of fire safety concerns and power surges.'

1. Fridges and freezers

While it is important to defrost your fridge and defrost your freezer every so often, you certainly don't want to unplug appliances to save money or keep your kitchen cool during a heatwave and inadvertently do so.

Even though you will feel heat pumping out from the back of these appliances, it's best to keep them plugged in and turned on through a heatwave as the alternative is too high a cost.

Appliance expert David warns, 'Two appliances that I’d highly advise against unplugging are the fridge and refrigerator because unplugging them will cause them to defrost, leak all over your kitchen floor, which is a potential fire hazard, spoil your food, and make your living space smell bad.'

Therefore, keep them plugged in to avoid wondering why your fridge is leaking water.

Glenn Lewis, president of Mr. Appliance, a Neighborly company, adds, 'Obviously, you can’t unplug your refrigerator or freezer just because it’s hot outside – your food would spoil.'

2. Your washer and dryer

Just like your fridge and freezer, you don't need to unplug your washing machine and dryer in a heatwave, although they are appliances you should always unplug before going on vacation.

'Unplugging your washer and dryer will not make it any cooler in your home,' says Glenn.

Leaving them plugged in is also not a costly mistake reducing the lifespan of your appliances, so it's fine to leave them plugged in. If you're looking to cut energy bills, you can always switch them off to avoid them becoming 'vampire' appliances which may be secretly costing you money.

'They are called the “vampire" appliances because they suck your power, even when not in use,' explains Glenn. Alternatively, you can handwash your clothing and harness the benefits of air-drying laundry that hot, sunny weather allows.

3. Your microwave

Finally, you don't need to unplug your microwave during a heatwave, says Glenn.

'Your microwave pulls a little power, but you will not notice a change in temperature if you unplug it,' he advises. For this reason, doing so is also not a pressing maintenance task to lower your energy bills, either.

What to shop

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet our experts

Glenn Lewis

Glenn joined Neighborly in 2013, holding various positions across the company before becoming president at Mr. Appliance in 2024.

David Miloshev

As a licensed electrician, David is an expert when it comes to which appliances you need to unplug, and which you don't.

FAQs

Does unplugging everything save energy?

While it might not feel like a big deal, leaving vampire appliances plugged in and on standby can account for as much as five to ten per cent of energy use, with the U.S. Department of Energy stating that unplugging these devices can help homeowners save money at home, with savings as high as $100 to $200 each year on utility bills.

Is switching off at the wall the same as unplugging?

'Every other appliance should be safe and even recommended to unplug during a heatwave because, in the extreme conditions during heatwaves, they are more susceptible to overheating, especially if they are older or have worn parts,' says David. 'Because of that, unplugging almost all appliances reduces this risk, which can lead to malfunctions, damage to the appliance or even cause fires.

'I’d also advise against using the circuit breakers instead of checking and unplugging every appliance because unless you know which appliances exactly are connected to the particular circuit, you’ll run the risk of turning something off that you shouldn’t be.'

In the future, banish phantom power usage with the six items you should always unplug before leaving the house.