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Caroline Biggs Caroline Biggs Caroline is a writer living in New York City. When she’s not covering art, interiors, and celebrity lifestyles, she’s usually buying sneakers, eating cupcakes, or hanging with her rescue bunnies, Daisy and Daffodil. Heather Bien Heather Bien Heather Bien is a Washington, D.C.-based freelance writer whose work has appeared on MyDomaine, The Knot, Martha Stewart Weddings, HelloGiggles, and more. You'll often find her making pitstops for roadside antique shops, drooling over original hardwood floors, or perfecting her latte recipe.
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You’ve probably heard that “overcharging” your phone, or leaving it plugged in after sufficiently charging the battery, can reduce your phone battery’s effectiveness over time. But have you ever wondered about the charger itself? If you leave your charger plugged into the wall around the clock, could your charging setup be costing you money or posing a safety hazard?
I reached out to energy expert Glenn LaMay, the founder of Home Energy Solutions, for help breaking down what happens when you keep your phone charger plugged into an electrical outlet.
Does a phone charger use electricity when plugged in?
If you’re worried that leaving your phone charger plugged into a wall outlet all day is going to run up a monster electricity bill, you can take a deep breath and relax. A cell phone charger pulls a negligible amount of electricity when left plugged in.
“Cell phone chargers only use electricity when they are charging,” LaMay explains. “Simply leaving one plugged into the wall shouldn’t make a difference.” While a plugged-in charger can pull a small amount of electricity, it’s not likely to add up to more than pennies a year —and the convenience of having it there is probably worth those cents.
Is it safe to leave a charger plugged in?
If you’re ever concerned that keeping your phone charger plugged in all day could pose a fire hazard, LaMay says not to worry. “All electrical appliances have to pass a UL safety test before they can be sold to consumers,” he explains. “Including cell phone chargers.” That means an item plugged into the wall should, in theory, be safe to leave plugged in at all times. Think about a charger the same way you would a lamp, a TV, or any other item that remains plugged in.
Does having your phone charger plugged in all the time wear it out sooner?
Unlike your cell phone battery, LaMay says keeping your phone charger plugged in all the time probably won’t have any effect on its lifespan. “Chances are that you will change phones (and chargers) long before your current charger stops working,” he says. Again, think of the cell phone charger itself as you would any other electronic item that remains plugged in. It does not have a battery in the same way that your phone or your laptop does.
What should I do if my iPhone is not charging when plugged in?
If your iPhone is plugged in but not charging, first try a simple restart by turning it off, and then turning it back on. If that doesn’t work, it could be the result of a dirty charging port. Start by using compressed air (or simply blowing into the port!) to try to remove any debris that could be caught in there.
You can also try a different USB cable to determine if it is the wall adapter or simply the cord that is the issue. If none of that works, then it may be time to visit the Apple store (but, first, try to charge your phone without a charger so you aren’t phoneless en route to the store!).
Anything else I should know about phone chargers?
“Stick with the chargers that come with your phone and avoid the knockoffs you find at gas stations and convenience stores,” says LaMay. “They pose a much bigger threat than keeping a vetted charger plugged in all day.” These chargers can damage your phone and, in a worst-case scenario, can pose a fire risk.
Sukaina Yacoob, a quality assurance engineer at Batteries Plus, further explains, “Cheaper chargers might not provide the correct voltage and could damage your battery, which can impact the speed and efficiency of your phone’s future charging. Plus, cell phone batteries have built-in safety protection circuitry, and if this is damaged by an off-brand charger, it can cause the battery to overheat, swell, or even catch fire.”
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