The Right Way to Unplug Appliances Before Vacation

TL;DR: Unplug small electronics, chargers, and countertop appliances before vacation to cut standby power draw by up to $100-200 a year in wasted electricity, but leave the refrigerator, sump pump, security system, and washing machine hoses connected. Turn off the water heater or set it to vacation mode, and shut the main water valve if you're away more than a week.

_Last reviewed: July 2026 · 6 min read_

You don't want to come home to a dead freezer full of spoiled food, or worse, a flooded basement because you unplugged the sump pump "just to be safe." Unplugging appliances before vacation isn't an all-or-nothing move. It's a short list of what to pull, what to leave alone, and one or two things to check on your way out the door.

Okoniq Property Hub lets you log which appliances you unplugged and when, so if something goes wrong while you're away, you have a record of exactly what was on and off.

Which appliances should you actually unplug before vacation?

Unplug anything that draws standby power but doesn't need to run while you're gone. That means TVs, gaming consoles, coffee makers, toaster ovens, phone chargers, printers, and any device with a small transformer block on the cord. These "energy vampires" pull power 24/7 even when off, and the Department of Energy estimates standby power costs the average US household $100 to $200 a year.

A power strip makes this fast. Group your living room electronics on one strip and your kitchen counter appliances on another, then flip both off before you leave. Skip anything hardwired or anything you'd rather not touch, like a modem if you use remote cameras to check on the house.

If you're worried about aging wiring making this riskier than it should be, it's worth knowing the signs of knob-and-tube wiring still hiding in older homes, since old wiring plus forgotten devices is a bigger fire risk than any single appliance.

What should you never unplug before a trip?

Never unplug the refrigerator, freezer, sump pump, security system, or anything tied to a smart home hub you use for remote monitoring. The fridge and freezer need continuous power to keep food safe, and even a 4-hour outage can start spoiling items in the freezer door. The sump pump is the one people forget most often, and unplugging it before a heavy rain is how basements flood while owners are on a beach 1,000 miles away.

If your home has a history of water intrusion, check the signs water is undermining your foundation before you leave, since a failed sump pump during a storm is exactly the scenario that turns a small crack into a real repair.

Leave your Wi-Fi router and any cameras plugged in too. You want eyes on the house, not a blackout the moment you lock the door.

Should you turn off the water heater before vacation?

Yes, for trips longer than 4-5 days, switch your water heater to vacation mode or turn the thermostat down to its lowest setting instead of fully unplugging it. Most gas water heaters have a "vacation" or "pilot" setting that keeps the pilot lit without heating a full tank, saving 5-10% on your energy bill during the trip. Electric water heaters can be switched off at the breaker if you're gone more than 2 weeks, but don't forget to flip it back before you shower on the way in.

While you're at the water heater, glance underneath it. If you've noticed water pooling under your water heater before, that's worth fixing before you leave, not after you get back to a soaked floor.

| Option | Standby Power Cost | Risk If Skipped | |---|---|---| | Unplug electronics/small appliances | Saves $8-15/month | Low risk, just wasted electricity | | Leave fridge/sump pump/security running | Costs normal usage | High risk if turned off (spoilage, flooding) |

What else should you check before leaving for more than a week?

Shut off the main water valve if you're away longer than 7 days, and unplug or drain the washing machine's water supply hoses. Supply line failures are one of the top causes of water damage claims in unoccupied homes, because a burst hose can run for days undetected. Turning the valve at the wall behind the washer, or the main shutoff for the whole house, removes that risk entirely.

Also check your garage door opener battery backup and any battery-run smoke detectors. A dead 9-volt battery in a smoke detector is a bigger problem when nobody's home to hear the low-battery chirp for two weeks straight.

FAQ

Is it safe to unplug the refrigerator before a long vacation?

No, for trips under 3-4 weeks, leave the fridge running. If you're gone longer, empty it fully, unplug it, and prop the door open slightly to prevent mold growth.

Will unplugging appliances actually lower my electric bill?

Yes, unplugging standby electronics can save $8 to $15 a month on the average US electric bill, based on Department of Energy standby power estimates.

Should I unplug my HVAC system before vacation?

No, leave it running but set the thermostat to 78-80°F in summer or 55-60°F in winter. Full shutdown risks frozen pipes in cold climates or humidity damage in warm ones.

What's the biggest mistake people make unplugging appliances for vacation?

Unplugging the sump pump. It's often grouped with other basement electronics on a power strip and gets shut off by accident, which is the single most common cause of vacation-related flooding.

Should renters or landlords have a checklist for tenants going on vacation?

Yes, a simple written checklist (electronics off, water heater to vacation mode, sump pump and fridge left on) prevents most of the common damage claims tied to unoccupied units.

This is educational information, not safety or legal advice. Call a licensed electrician or plumber if you're unsure whether a specific appliance is safe to unplug in your home.