Leaving your coffee maker plugged may not seem like a big deal, but did you know that doing so will significantly affect your electric bill in the long run? As per the US Department of Energy, electric bills can rise by $100 to $200 annually when you leave your unused appliances running. And yes, your beloved coffee maker is not an exemption!
Table Of Contents
−- To unplug or not to unplug?
- Why should you unplug your unused appliances?
- How much does unplugging let you save, really?
- Electricity usage of Keurig
- Disabling the Auto-Off Feature
- Benefits of unplugging unused devices
- Is the coffee machine prone to starting a fire?
- FAQs
- Any tips for easy unplugging?
- What is Energy Vampire or Phantom Power or Vampire Power?
- Last words
What’s even worse? Your coffee makers with digital displays use more power than older models. So, unplug if you want to save energy!
To unplug or not to unplug?
If you don’t need to keep your coffee warm for a long time, yes, you should unplug. This will help lessen the cost of paying your bill and will also help increase the lifespan of your coffee machine. If you’re lucky enough to have newer models of Keurig, utilize the auto-off feature where you can set it to power off after a certain period post-brew.
Plus, other coffee machines from other brands have this feature, too, so make sure to look for this feature before purchasing a coffee maker.
Why should you unplug your unused appliances?
Not only does it save you money, but unplugging your unused appliances also helps decrease the risk of fire accidents. Based on the US Fire Administration’s 2019 topical fire report, electrical malfunction is included in the top 4 primary causes of residential fires. If that’s not enough for you to unplug, I don’t know what else will!
As per the US Fire Administration’s recommendation:
- Unplug unused small appliances.
- Plug all small appliances into their proper wall outlet.
This is not solely a monetary issue but a safety one! It’s a small act to do, but it can save you from a huge problem.
How much does unplugging let you save, really?
As established, you can save around $100 to $200 a year by unplugging unused appliances. But of course, this is a case-to-case basis! Every home is different. But, to make things clearer: any electric device that utilizes a wattage of 1, such as your coffee machine, adds up to a $1 rise in an electric bill per year. That doesn’t seem much, but count how many small appliances you have at home and estimate! It might not be so small after all.
Electricity usage of Keurig
The highest electricity expenditure occurs once you hit the power button, but after that, relatively less power is utilized. For example, if you turn the machine once and keep it on for 4 hours more, it uses about 5,440 watts. On the other hand, if you brew 8 cups of coffee and turn it off and on in between cups, it uses up to 10,400 watts. That’s a significant difference so keep that in mind! The initial power used is 1500 watts the moment you turn the unit on and about 3 minutes later.
Another thing to consider is that leaving your Keurig on keeps the water in the reservoir warm and the water inside that internal tank. That adds to the energy spent by the machine because the internal tank utilizes 200-400 watts of electricity when kept warm. However, like an aircon unit, it uses more energy if the water becomes cold!
Generally, the Keurig utilizes around 60 watts if left unused.
Disabling the Auto-Off Feature
All Keurig coffee machines come with an auto-off feature to save energy. Thus, the machine powers off automatically after 2 hours of being idle. But if you want to keep it on for more than 2 hours of non-use, here’s a guide on how to disable the feature:
Keurig K-Select and K-Cafe
- Turn the Keurig off.
- Press and hold the “strong” and the “10 oz. Large Mug” buttons for 3 seconds simultaneously.
- The green “AUTO OFF” light will turn off.
- Turn your Keurig on again and check if the “AUTO OFF” light stays off.
Keurig K-Classic (K55 or K50)
- Press the black “AUTO OFF” button if the green “AUTO OFF” light is on.
Benefits of unplugging unused devices
- Decreases the cost of electricity bill
- Decreases risk of electrical malfunction
- Decreases risk of fire
- Prolongs the life of your machine!
We believe that to each his own. But to be honest, we don’t see why you won’t unplug your unused appliances!
Is the coffee machine prone to starting a fire?
We will not say it’s impossible because it is, but we want to reiterate that it rarely happens. More likely causes of fire are old homes, frayed and worn-out cords, and broken and old wall outlets. Plus, Keurig strictly complies with safety measures in manufacturing their coffee makers.
Another potential fire hazard is leaving the coffee pot near an electrical cord; if the cord melts, it could cause a fire. Some coffee makers have 1 or 2-hour coffee pot automatic shut-offs for added safety.
FAQs
Do all coffee makers have an automatic shut-off?
To answer your question, not all coffee makers have an automatic shut-off, but more manufacturers have recently produced coffee makers with automatic shut-off.
What happens if I forget to turn off my coffee maker?
It will most likely be unaffected by being left on for a few hours. This is because coffee machines have a built-in thermostat that stops them from getting too hot.
What devices should be unplugged when not in use?
Anything that isn’t being used should be unplugged. But if you want a list, on top of my head are:
- Coffee machines
- TVs
- Computers and laptops
- Battery chargers
- Toasters
- Radio or stereo players
But we won’t get tired of saying this: UNPLUG ANYTHING THAT’S NOT IN USE!
Any tips for easy unplugging?
A power strip is a top-rated yet affordable tool you can buy off Amazon. This is a strip where you plug multiple devices. It’s easy since you can turn all those devices off with one flip of a switch. You’ll want to look for higher joules if you intend to plug-in multiple electronic devices.
[amazon bestseller=”surge protector” items=”5″ template=”table”]
Alternatively, if you do not want a surge protector hanging out in your kitchen, you can use a wall mount surge protector like this AmazonBasics:
What is Energy Vampire or Phantom Power or Vampire Power?
These three terms refer to one thing: any electronic device that uses power despite being off or despite being in sleep mode. This goes on as long as they’re plugged. On top and one of the most draining devices are your beloved TV and its accessories.
As a general rule, a device can be classified as an energy vampire if the device is:
- It can be controlled using a remote
- It can be plugged into an external power supply
- It has a digital interface or LED light that does not shut off when idle
Last words
We hope that reading through this article encourages you to unplug any device that’s on idle mode. There’s nothing to lose if you do so!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. Remember to support us by purchasing through the Amazon/Walmart/Impact Radius links provided. Last update on 2024-04-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Disclosure: No compensation or free products were received in exchange for writing this review.
Editorial Staff
The editorial staff at Crazy Coffee Crave is a team of coffee enthusiasts & Baristas who enjoy the one thing we all think about as soon as we get up in the morning. Trusted by thousands of readers worldwide.
