Modern homes now use more electrical devices than ever before. At the same time, most devices evolved away from using physical power switches, favoring programmable soft switches instead. That shift had a profound impact on the way homes use electricity.
It meant that an increasing share of electrical devices continued to consume electricity even when turned off. Those so-called ghost loads make it hard to keep electrical bills under control. They’re also difficult to pinpoint if you want to rid your home of them. To help, here’s a guide from our electrical services experts to help you find and remove ghost loads.
How Do You Know You Have Ghost Loads?
The first step in addressing ghost loads is determining if you have any. Doing so is straightforward if you have direct access to your electrical meter. Begin by turning off every light and known electrical device in your home.
That includes unplugging always-on appliances like refrigerators. Then, look for devices that obviously use power while in standby mode. Common examples include TVs, microwaves, stereos, cordless telephones, and electric ovens. Many of these items have stand-by mode or a clock that uses electricity even when turned off.
Once you have unplugged these devices, check your electrical meter. If it’s still showing power use, your home has hidden ghost loads. When you’re done, just don’t forget to turn essential appliances back in. You don’t want your refrigerator to go lukewarm and end up with spoiled food.
Locating Hidden Ghost Loads
You can find hidden ghost loads inside your home in a few ways. The first and simplest is to go around to your home’s outlets and look for plugged-in devices. If you find any devices with large power bricks, feel them for warmth. You’ve likely found a ghost load if you find a warm power brick connected to a powered-off device.
You can also use the process of elimination to identify ghost loads. To do it, unplug every device in your home. Then, plug them back in individually, checking your power meter between each. Your power meter will let you know when you plug in a device that adds a ghost load. If you’ve unplugged every device you can find and your meter’s still running, you’ll need to take additional steps.
You can narrow down the location of well-hidden ghost loads using your home’s electrical panel. To do it, switch off each circuit breaker one by one. Your power meter should stop when the circuit containing the ghost load is shut off. That should also let you know which part of your home to search more thoroughly.
Determining the Impact of Ghost Loads (And How to Fix It)
Once you’ve identified any ghost loads inside your home, you must decide which you’re willing to live with. For example, you’re probably not willing to have to plug in your main television every time you use it. However, a TV in a spare bedroom may be a perfect ghost load to shed. To make informed decisions, you can purchase a power meter to determine how much power each device uses.
Most power meters offer simple modes of operation. Typically, you plug the device you want to test into the outlet on the meter. Then, you plug the meter itself into an outlet. That will let the meter measure the power the device uses over time. It’s best to test each device for at least one hour for accurate readings. Then, you can multiply the kWh reading from the meter by your electrical cost per kWh. That will tell you how much money the device in question costs to operate every hour while on standby.
Many of your devices can be plugged into power strips that have a switch. Not all of them solve the problem of ghost load when you turn the power strip off, but more advanced models do have this capability. Buying one that does and plugging in appliances like entertainment centers and laptops, then turning the entire strip off when not in use, can help reduce the amount of ghost energy these devices draw.
Reliable Local Electricians
With roots dating back to 1938, GVEC Electrician Services is the leading electrician home and business owners trust in the Guadalupe Valley area, including DeWitt, Gonzales, Lavaca, Wilson, Comal, Bexar, Hays, and Guadalupe Counties. Our team of qualified electricians can help you find hidden ghost loads to save you money.
Plus, we offer complete electrical services, from simple repairs to electrical panel upgrades and standby generator installation. We even offer financing options on approved credit to help you pay for larger electrical projects. So, if you’re struggling with ghost loads and need an electrician in the Guadalupe Valley or surrounding area, call GVEC Electrician Services today!
