May 28, 2025, 3:08 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
In times when almost everything is getting more expensive, many people are looking for ways to save money. It’s worth taking a look at the electricity consumption in your own home. However, with some devices, it can even be harmful to disconnect them completely from the power supply.
In your own household, there can be plenty of unwanted energy guzzlers hiding. By identifying and turning them off, you can save a lot of energy—and thus money—over the year. However, there are some devices where this does more harm than good. When you unplug an electronic device, not only is the power supply interrupted, but it is also completely disconnected from the network, preventing updates or potentially damaging the electronics. TECHBOOK explains what you should watch out for.
OLED and Smart TVs Can Be Damaged
Getting bigger, brighter, and more expensive to operate? Depending on the model, TVs can be real energy guzzlers, especially since they still consume noticeable energy in standby mode. Many users unplug their TVs at night or during vacations to completely disconnect them from the power supply.
While this is safe for LCD devices, it does not apply to TVs with an OLED display. This is due to the technology used. In OLED TVs (short for organic light-emitting diode), the individual pixels light up themselves instead of using a backlight. This improves image contrast, among other things, but also means that each time the TV is restarted, the pixels have to regenerate individually. Regularly disconnecting the TV from the power supply puts a significant strain on the diodes, which can cause long-term damage.
To avoid this, newer devices increasingly have programs that help the diodes regenerate. You can find relevant information from your device’s manufacturer. If your TV has such a program, it can be relatively safely disconnected from the power supply, but only if there is a certain time span between the regular shutdown of the device and the final disconnection from the power network.
Special care must also be taken with modern Smart TVs. These download important software updates at night. If these are repeatedly missed, the restart may take longer, and functionality can be impaired.
It Depends on the Printer
Printers can also be real energy hogs, depending on their type and age. A laser printer, for example, can consume about 300 to 500 watts. This is because the device needs to heat up first after being turned on. And even in standby mode, such a printer costs quite a bit over the year. Inkjet printers, on the other hand, consume significantly less energy.
With a laser printer, it is worth completely disconnecting it from the power supply to save energy. However, it is important to turn it off properly beforehand. An inkjet printer, on the other hand, should never be disconnected from the power supply. Each time it starts, a self-cleaning and corresponding test are performed, which ultimately consumes more—also ink—than simply leaving it connected to the network.
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Caution with Wi-Fi Routers and Modems
Special caution is also required with the home router. While it does not harm the router itself if you regularly disconnect it from the power supply, there are many factors to consider.
If, for example, the landline phone runs through the device, unplugging it significantly limits your accessibility. Additionally, much higher costs can unintentionally arise if devices like smartphones or tablets automatically switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data to access the internet. Certain services and devices even rely on an internet connection. Smart home products are particularly affected by this.
Devices You Should Disconnect from Power
Aside from these exceptions, you can still save a lot of energy by disconnecting electrical devices from the network. For gaming consoles or most chargers, this is not a problem and is even recommended! Especially in the area of household appliances, it is relatively easy to effectively save electricity with a few measures, such as unplugging the microwave when it’s not in use.