Do our plug sockets leak electricy?

SailorSam

Stick to your guns angela, if you believe the sockets 'leaking' prove it to him.
While your Oh is out at work today lift a few floorboards and if there's a stain when your hubby gets home you can show him and say, there you are you can see where it's coming out, i told you so.

tara747

JackieO wrote: »

I always remove the t.v. and cable plugs when I go to bed only because at our local neighbourhood watch meeting we had a fireman who said that t.v.s left plugged in were a fire risk as sets hold their heat at times and are a common cause of fires in the home.It takes me two seconds to unplug the set and the cable box and it gives me peace of mind mor e than anything else.My computer I switch off at the plug when I finish using it .I think apart from the fridge-freezer and the phone they are the only things left switched on.

I don't remove the plugs, but I do switch everything off at the wall at night. Is this enough? Should I be removing the plugs as well, can we trust the socket switches???

Agapanthus

Sockets don't leak, even if they're left switched on and there's no need to unplug/switch off everything. (I'm an electrical engineer!)

However, some electronic items do consume power even when they're switched off. TVs are probably the worst culprit, followed by phone chargers and anything with a "brick" type power plug or an LED still shining on it when it's off. You can often tell by putting your hand on an item and checking if it's still warm when it's been off for a while. If it is, you're paying for that, though not very much. There's also a small fire risk - make sure you have a functioning smoke alarm.

There is no need to switch off or unplug things like lights, electric showers, kettles, toasters etc. at the plug at night unless you have reason to suspect that they're faulty (in which case unplug them permanently!)

You'll make a far bigger difference to household bills by being strict in switching off lights that aren't being used.

Bongedone

My washing machine uses 15w when not turned on. No lights or anything. I have to switch it off at the mains. Lucky I have a switch area for evertything in the kitchen.

tara747

Agapanthus wrote: »

Sockets don't leak, even if they're left switched on and there's no need to unplug/switch off everything. (I'm an electrical engineer!)

However, some electronic items do consume power even when they're switched off. TVs are probably the worst culprit, followed by phone chargers and anything with a "brick" type power plug or an LED still shining on it when it's off. You can often tell by putting your hand on an item and checking if it's still warm when it's been off for a while. If it is, you're paying for that, though not very much. There's also a small fire risk - make sure you have a functioning smoke alarm.

There is no need to switch off or unplug things like lights, electric showers, kettles, toasters etc. at the plug at night unless you have reason to suspect that they're faulty (in which case unplug them permanently!)

You'll make a far bigger difference to household bills by being strict in switching off lights that aren't being used.

I am good at switching off lights, that's why I like the old style 100W bulbs. Those energy saving bulbs take forever to get bright enough, so you tend to leave them on. I hate them and refuse to use them. And yes, it is worth the extra cost imho!

Agapanthus

Tara747 - the old ones used to do that, but some of the newest ones are very fast indeed - you'd hardly know.

tara747

Agapanthus wrote: »

Tara747 - the old ones used to do that, but some of the newest ones are very fast indeed - you'd hardly know.

You're not fooling me, away with your tales!!! :rotfl:

zippychick

as this isn't Old Style ive moved it to the electricity board for you

Zip

espresso21

I agree with Tara about the bulbs. I am supportive of most environmental issues but it wouldn't be polite for me to tell you where I'd like to stick those energy-saving lightbulbs! They take too long to get to full brightness, they give off a harsh glare, and even worse, they make my migraines worse. I have found a seller on ebay who brings incandescent bulbs in from somewhere foreign and sells them at a very reasonable price.

tara747

Hear, hear espresso21! I am also stocking up on old style bulbs, I hope to have enough to do me for life...