Kettle Using Electricity When Plugged In But Not Switched On?

[1581960]

I've been told today that if you leave the kettle plugged into the wall socket it uses electricity even if you don't switch it on, is this correct? and if it is, what is happening and how much electricity is being used.
Many thanks for any enlightenment.

[1581960]

perseverer, I don't see why you would have to turn everything else off, if the smart meter could detect a spike every time you plug in the kettle it would show above all the other things that were running at the same time. You would obviously need to try it a number of times to be sure it wasn't the fridge or something cutting in or out.

[Hopkirk]

Items on standby are not the problem. They are negligible compared with the big energy users like tumble dryers, washing machines, dishwashers, immersion heaters, boilers, cookers etc etc.

[Atheist]

158; I suspect you are using far more electricity here than your kettle would use in a year (if it was left on at the plug but not used to boil water).
This thread has gone a bit mad.

[Canary42]

Fake advice

[douglas9401]

At least when plugged in it's stopping electricity leaking out all over your worktops and sink.

[Canary42]

https://ibb.co/kSrqgNy

[Hazlinny]

1581960/ On a rare occasion, I wish I'd never replied to a post and this is one! I have to just stand by what the Smart meter fitter told me ( one would assume he would know) and that was to unplug all appliances from the wall socket when not in use as they did still use up electricity when left in. Googling the question, it seems this is the general opinion. Checking the energy flow at meter is not possible while switching on/unplugging kettle - too far to do both at same time!

[1581960]

Thank you one and all for your replies (especially Hazlinny for his last one). It was obviously a serious question when asked and I'm pleased with the serious answers about myth's and fake news, I also appreciated the humour that was thrown in. Thank you all again.

[davebro]

If we all make too many economies the energy suppliers revenues will fall & they will need to lay off staff and (more) may even go bust. Have you considered that?

[1581960]

That would be a shame, we wouldn't be able to hit them with a windfall tax.

[bobbinwales]

//If we all make too many economies the energy suppliers revenues will fall & they will need to lay off staff and (more) may even go bust. Have you considered that?//
Surely if there losing money due to high wholesale energy cost's the retailer suppliers would be happy for us to use abit less.... and its only by us using less we can stop the wholesalers pushing up prices so much

[bobbinwales]

Anyway what 1881960 is talking about is a tiny reduction of probly under 1%

The best way to test this is using your smart meter which in my case is in the kitchen but it would be intresting to see the watts use reads with maybe 10 things plugged in but turned off and then go round and unplugg them all and see the new figure (kettle, coffeee maker, printer, micrawave, hairdrier ect.