Passports checked, windows closed and suitcase finally zipped shut. But before you leave for the airport, there is another job to add to the holiday checklist: deciding which electrical devices really need to stay on while the house is empty.
Modern homes contain far more permanently connected equipment than they once did. Televisions sit in standby, chargers remain plugged in, computers sleep rather than shut down and numerous small appliances stay connected to the mains whether somebody is home or not.
That doesn’t mean the answer is to switch off the entire house at the consumer unit before heading away.
Fridges, freezers, security equipment and other devices may have good reasons to remain powered. Broadband equipment may also be needed if the home has connected security cameras, lighting, or other devices homeowners want to access remotely.
The better approach is to walk through the property and decide what genuinely needs electricity while nobody is there.
Don’t leave laundry running as you walk out of the door
Putting a load of washing on before leaving for the airport might seem like good time management. Electrical safety organisations don’t recommend it.
Electrical Safety First advises people not to leave washing machines, tumble dryers or dishwashers running unattended, particularly overnight or while they are out.
If you’re going away, finish those jobs while somebody is still at home.
The same principle applies to other equipment that doesn’t need to be operating in an empty property. Switching appliances off when they aren’t required removes unnecessary electricity consumption and, depending on the appliance, can also reduce the period during which an electrical fault could develop unnoticed.
Before leaving, check utility rooms and kitchens rather than assuming everything has already been turned off.
Chargers don’t need a holiday of their own
Phone, tablet, laptop and other battery chargers are another easy thing to overlook.
A charger may remain beside the bed or behind a sofa long after the device itself has been packed into hand luggage.
Electrical Safety First recommends unplugging chargers once charging has finished and warns against leaving devices charging for longer than necessary. It also advises using the correct charger intended for the product and charging devices on a hard, flat surface rather than beds or sofas.
If nobody will use a charger for the next fortnight, there is little reason to leave it connected.
You can do the same check for electric toothbrush chargers, shavers, camera chargers, and other equipment that may normally remain plugged in through habit rather than necessity.
Televisions, games consoles and office equipment can usually have a rest
Walk into a modern living room and several devices may be drawing power despite apparently being switched off.
Televisions, games consoles, sound equipment and associated electronics often use standby modes so that they can respond quickly when needed.
Home offices can contain another collection of equipment: monitors, printers, speakers, docking stations and computers.
Whether individual products should be unplugged depends on the equipment and manufacturer’s instructions, but equipment that has no reason to remain available while the household is away is worth checking.
This is particularly useful before a longer holiday.
It also avoids paying for unnecessary standby consumption while nobody is there to benefit from the convenience standby mode provides.
The fridge and freezer are different
Not everything should be disconnected simply because the house is empty.
A fridge or freezer containing food needs to remain powered.
Electrical Safety First’s safety guidance for fridges and freezers includes maintaining the recommended internal temperature and advises against connecting these appliances through extension leads.
Turning a freezer full of food off before a two-week holiday would clearly create a rather unpleasant surprise on returning home.
If you intentionally empty and shut down a fridge or freezer for an extended period, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to do so safely.
The important point is that holiday preparation isn’t about applying one rule to every plug in the house.
Think carefully before switching off your broadband
The WiFi router is another device that might seem unnecessary when nobody is home.
But switching it off could also disable some of the connected equipment the homeowner deliberately wants to keep operating.
Security cameras, smart lighting, connected doorbells and other smart-home products may depend on the home’s broadband connection or associated network equipment for remote functions.
If you intend to check a camera from abroad or operate compatible devices through an app, switching off the equipment providing their network connection may defeat the purpose.
The exact behaviour depends on the system. Some smart-home technologies can perform certain local functions without an internet connection, while cloud-dependent or remotely accessed features may not.
It is therefore worth understanding how the equipment works before disconnecting the router.
Should you leave lights on to make the house look occupied?
Leaving the hallway light burning continuously for a fortnight isn’t particularly convincing evidence that somebody is home.
A better approach, where suitable equipment is already installed, is to use scheduled lighting so selected lights operate at appropriate times.
Timers and smart lighting controls can help.
For suitable plug-in lamps, smart plugs and sockets can also provide scheduled control without requiring the lamp to remain on throughout the day and night.
There is an important caveat here. Use a smart plug only with equipment appropriate for that type of control, within the plug’s specified electrical rating, and in accordance with the instructions for both products.
Remote control does not make an unsuitable appliance safe to operate unattended.
Lighting is a much more straightforward example of where scheduling can be useful, provided the equipment has been installed and configured correctly.
Heating appliances deserve particular attention
Portable electric heaters, hair straighteners, curling tongs and other appliances that produce substantial heat are not things to leave operating in an empty property.
Electrical Safety First advises switching heated products such as hair straighteners and hair dryers off and unplugging them after use, then leaving them somewhere safe to cool.
It also warns that portable heaters need to be kept away from combustible materials.
A final check of bedrooms and bathrooms before leaving can therefore be worthwhile, particularly on the morning of departure when people may be rushing to get ready.
If you’ve just used a heated appliance, make sure it’s switched off rather than relying on memory halfway to the airport.
Don’t forget outdoor and seasonal equipment
What you need to check depends on the time of year.
Summer holidays may mean garden equipment, water features or outdoor electrical products are being used regularly before departure.
A Christmas trip introduces decorative lighting and other seasonal equipment.
Electrical Safety First advises switching Christmas lights off when going to bed or going out. More generally, outdoor electrical equipment should suit its intended environment and be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
If something has no reason to operate while the house is empty, consider whether it needs to remain connected at all.
Check plugs and sockets while you’re doing the rounds
The pre-holiday walk-through is also a chance to notice warning signs that are easy to ignore in everyday life.
Electrical Safety First advises people not to ignore burn marks, buzzing or crackling sounds, repeated blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers, or plugs and sockets that become hot.
Damaged cables and signs of overheating also need attention.
A holiday isn’t the time to leave a suspect electrical appliance running and hope for the best.
If a product or connection appears faulty, stop using it and seek appropriate professional or manufacturer advice rather than leaving it operating unattended.
Test the smoke alarms before you leave
Smoke alarms are obviously most important for protecting people while they are inside a property, but maintaining them should still be part of normal household safety.
Electrical Safety First recommends having enough smoke or heat alarms to cover areas where a fire could start, and testing them regularly.
If somebody will be visiting the property while you’re away — to feed pets, collect post or check the house — functioning alarms remain particularly important.
For homes with connected alarm or security systems, it is also worth checking that notifications and remote access work before travelling, rather than discovering a problem once abroad.
Don’t turn the whole house off without thinking
Switching off every circuit at the consumer unit may sound like the ultimate way to ensure nothing has been left running.
In practice, that could also disconnect equipment that needs to remain powered.
Along with fridges and freezers, a property may contain security systems, alarms, heating controls, pumps, networking equipment, medical equipment or other installations with legitimate reasons to remain operational.
Requirements vary considerably between homes.
Anyone considering isolating circuits or equipment they aren’t familiar with should first understand what those circuits supply, rather than treating the consumer unit as one large holiday switch.
A five-minute check can prevent a lot of uncertainty
Most people have experienced that moment shortly after setting off, when somebody asks, “Did we turn that off?”
A quick room-by-room check before leaving is usually easier than spending the first day of a holiday wondering.
Finish washing and drying before departure. Unplug chargers that aren’t needed. Check heated appliances. Decide whether televisions, computers and other standby equipment need to remain connected. Leave essential appliances such as an in-use fridge or freezer powered, and think carefully before disconnecting broadband or smart-home equipment.
No universal list exists because homes, appliances, and individual needs differ.
The useful question is much simpler.
Does this device have a genuine reason to be powered while nobody is home?
If the answer is no, and the manufacturer’s instructions allow it to be safely switched off or unplugged, the start of a holiday is a good time to do it.
