{"id":244009,"date":"2025-09-21T13:54:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-21T13:54:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/244009\/"},"modified":"2025-09-21T13:54:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-21T13:54:11","slug":"5-reasons-you-should-always-unplug-your-phone-charger-after-use","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/244009\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Reasons You Should Always Unplug Your Phone Charger After Use"},"content":{"rendered":"

It may seem inconsequential, but unplugging your phone charger after use really does make a difference. When left plugged in, your charger can continue to pull energy, posing a serious safety <\/a>risk as well as other hazards. We spoke with electrical experts for the reasons why you should always unplug your charger in-between charging sessions. Plus, a few best practices when it comes to charging safely<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Related: 13 Sneaky Home Hazards Hiding in Plain Sight (and How to Fix Them)<\/a><\/p>\n

01 of 05<\/p>\n

It’s a Fire Risk<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the most obvious\u2014and serious. While most modern smartphones have hardware and software safeguards to prevent against charging-related mishaps, older or defective charging equipment has caused enough fires to warrant basic precautions<\/a>, according to Evan Jones, a representative with the Electrical Safety Foundation International<\/a>, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated exclusively to education on electrical safety. \u201cAdditionally, charging equipment such as cables, charging bricks, extension cords and power strips can also fail and lead to fires,\u201d Jones warns.<\/p>\n

02 of 05<\/p>\n

It Can Consume Vampire Energy\"mikroman6<\/p>\n

Phone chargers are one of the biggest culprits of vampire energy, says Daniel Mock, vice president of operations at Mister Sparky<\/a>. \u201cA phantom load, commonly referred to as vampire energy, is when an electronic device continues to pull power<\/a> and electricity while plugged in\u2014even if it is \u2018off\u2019 or in \u2018standby\u2019 mode,\u201d Mock explains.<\/p>\n

According to the office of the Ohio Consumers\u2019 Counsel, vampire devices can add up to 20 percent of a monthly electricity bill, adds Bidisha Nagaraj, a brand spokesperson for Schneider Electric<\/a>, one of the world’s largest energy management companies. \u201cAlthough a single 5W charger averages around 26 cents to run per year, most homes don\u2019t have just one charger,\u201d Nagaraj says, \u201cand fast charging options use even more power.\u201d<\/p>\n

03 of 05<\/p>\n

It Increases the Risk of Shock<\/p>\n

\u201cCheap chargers are often built with thin wiring, weak plastic and insulation, and no thermal cutoff,\u201d warns Sergey Nikoli, electrician and president at Product Air Heating & Cooling<\/a>. \u201cDamaged chargers are the riskiest because cracked casings, frayed cables and loose plugs can easily spark or short out<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

04 of 05<\/p>\n

It Can Reduce the Life of the Charger\"Carol<\/p>\n

Carol Yepes \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Chargers that are unplugged after use are less exposed to voltage spikes from the grid. \u201cMost chargers don\u2019t have a surge protector built in,\u201d Nikoli explains. \u201cWhat they do have is a small circuit that regulates the incoming voltage so your phone gets steady voltage\u2014but this doesn’t protect against a lightning strike or a big power spike.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leaving your adapter always plugged in might result in reduced life of the charger due to capacitors exceeding their rated operational life. Donovan Wallace, vice president of electronic design at Design 1st<\/a>\u00a0who has 30 years of experience developing consumer electronic devices with battery and charger features, says quality is the key factor here. \u201cIt comes down to how well designed the charger is,\u201d Wallace says, \u201cand the quality of the components.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related: 8 Household Appliances You Don’t Need to Unplug After Every Use<\/a><\/p>\n

05 of 05<\/p>\n

It Perpetuates a Risky Habit<\/p>\n

Finally, leaving your charger plugged in when it\u2019s not in use may increase the likelihood of other mishaps. \u201cIf you don\u2019t have a habit of unplugging a charger after use, a chance you forget to unplug something riskier like a space heater, iron, or hair tool goes way up,\u201d Nikoli says. \u201cIt\u2019s a useful skill to do such things just automatically.\u201d<\/p>\n

Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts of Charging Safety<\/p>\n

For best (and safest) results, adhere to the following best practices when handling your chargers. <\/p>\n