Even if you only go away for a few days, an empty house continues to use electricity if you leave appliances plugged in or settings configured incorrectly. In this article, we are going to run through a quick checklist together before the bank holiday so that you can take full control of your meter and ensure your only expense is your well-deserved break.

Why it's a good idea to do an energy check before going away for a few days

Even if you are only away for a short time, the savings derived from background usage can have a real impact on your bill. Carrying out an inspection before a short trip is a smart decision because...

• An empty house still consumes: This happens because, on the one hand, there is the standing charge for contracted power, a cost paid simply for being connected to the electricity grid, regardless of whether you use electricity or not. Meanwhile, plugged-in devices continue to add kWh to the meter.
• There are unnecessary expenses you can avoid on a bank holiday: The main culprit of expenditure in an empty home is vampire or standby power, which represents the energy demanded by electronic devices connected to the grid while they are turned off. This silent expense represents between 7% and 11% of the total energy consumption of an average home, which is equivalent to about 300 kWh per year.

What changes if you only go away for 2 or 3 days

For a short trip, the savings strategy must be adapted so as not to compromise comfort upon your return. For example, May is the perfect month to reduce the use of heating without losing comfort thanks to its mild temperatures. Learning how to power down your house ahead of the holidays can be vital for saving on your bill.

Energy checklist before leaving home

Follow these ten steps to make your home more efficient while you enjoy your break.

1. Unplug anything you don't need

Before leaving, take a visual tour of each room. For example, kitchen appliances such as the microwave, air fryer, or toaster must be completely disconnected from the power, as they will continue to consume energy if the plug remains in the socket.

2. Cut the vampire power of the TV, router, chargers, and small appliances

Many devices display a red light to indicate standby mode, but there are many other devices without lights that also consume energy.

Unplugging equipment such as the television or WiFi router, which alone consumes about 35 kWh per year, is the most effective measure. It is also a good idea to unplug mobile chargers which, even when not charging anything, consume between 0.1 and 0.5 watts per hour. It may seem like a tiny saving, but every little helps.

Using switched extension leads facilitates this process by allowing you to disconnect several devices at once.

3. Decide what to do with the fridge depending on the number of days you will be away

If you are going to be away for more than 3 days, you could consider emptying and unplugging it to achieve zero energy use. In this case, you will need to leave the doors open to prevent mould and bad odours.

If you decide to leave it on, turn the thermostat up to the warmest setting (about 5ºC) and fill the empty spaces with containers of water to improve thermal inertia.

4. Turn off the electric water heater if you are not going to use hot water

Does it make sense to keep a water tank hot that no one is going to use during the bank holiday? Turning off your electric water heater is one of the actions that has the most direct impact on the bill, as domestic hot water is one of the services that consumes the most energy.

5. Check your climate control, thermostat, and standby devices

Make sure the thermostat is turned off or in the 'eco' position (about 15ºC) to prevent the heating from turning on during the night-time temperature drop. Also check that the air conditioning hasn't been left in standby mode before leaving home.

6. Turn off lights and leave only what is essential

Make sure no lamps are carelessly left on. If you need to leave a light on for security, use smart timers and LED bulbs, which are up to 80% more efficient and last much longer.

7. Consider shutting off sections of the fuse box

If you want a total guarantee of savings, you can directly turn off some rooms at the fuse box. Remember not to do this with rooms that will require electricity, such as those with an alarm or fridge (if you keep it on).

Cutting off the power prevents any energy use and ensures that the meter does not record any expenditure until you return. It is a highly recommended option for second homes or prolonged absences.

8. Check that you haven't left anything scheduled unnecessarily

Deactivate any automatic routines you have set on your smart devices, speakers, or light timers for these days. You will prevent the house from consuming energy for functions that no one needs.

9. Check usage from your mobile if you have the app or digital bill

With Endesa, you can activate digital billing and monitor your usage in detail from anywhere via the mobile app. You will be able to 'spy' if you have left something on and set up alerts if your expenditure exceeds an established limit.

10. Do one last quick check before closing the door

A final visual review will allow you to spot forgotten chargers, electric toothbrushes, or small red standby lights that went unnoticed. This extra minute dedicated to disconnecting the house before leaving is key to absolute peace of mind and real savings throughout the May bank holiday.

What should be turned off and what shouldn't before a bank holiday

It is essential to know how to distinguish which appliances require a complete shut-off and which need minimum maintenance.

Small appliances and electronics

The general rule for these devices is physical unplugging. Items such as printers, music systems, robot vacuum cleaners, and video game consoles maintain active functions even when they appear to be turned off.

Fridge and freezer

It is the only large appliance that typically remains in continuous operation. To maximise its efficiency if it is left on, keep the temperature at 5ºC for the fridge and -18ºC for the freezer. Avoid prolonged opening before leaving and if it is very empty, remember the water bottle trick to save energy.

Water heater, heating, and air conditioning

Whether for the May bank holiday or any other getaway, the recommendation is that the electric water heater be turned off to avoid heating water unnecessarily.

Heating and air conditioning must also be deactivated or programmed in eco mode, as temperatures in May are usually milder.

Common mistakes before leaving the house empty

• Leaving thinking that 'off' is equal to 'no consumption': Many devices, although they seem off, maintain a certain level of consumption while they remain connected to the grid. Only unplugging them (or using switched extension leads) guarantees that the flow of electricity is completely cut off and consumption is truly zero.
• Leaving the water heater on for several days: Keeping a hot water tank running for three or four days without using it is a useless waste that can account for up to 25% of your bill during those days.
• Unplugging the fridge without emptying it or without leaving it open: If you decide to disconnect the fridge, it would be a critical mistake to leave it closed. The lack of air circulation could lead to the appearance of mould and unpleasant odours that are very difficult to eliminate. Furthermore, spoiled food will mean an extra expense upon your return.

FAQ

Is it worth unplugging things if I only go away for a long weekend?

Yes. Vampire power is a cumulative expense that never stops. Eliminating it can mean savings of up to 15% of annual energy expenditure.

What do I do with the fridge if I go away for three days?

For such a short absence, the most practical thing is usually not to unplug it, but rather to adjust the thermostat to a less demanding temperature.

In any case, using an energy monitor to determine the real expenditure of your fridge can be decisive when deciding whether to leave it unplugged or not.

Should I turn off the fuse box?

It is highly recommended if you want to ensure zero consumption and you do not have equipment that must remain activated (such as alarms or fridges). You can always deactivate the circuits for certain rooms, depending on your needs.

Does the router also consume if I don't use it?

Yes, and a lot. It is one of the devices with the highest standby consumption, reaching 35 kWh annually. Turning it off during the bank holiday is one of the simplest and most effective measures to reduce consumption.

Can I monitor my usage from my mobile while I'm away?

Absolutely. Thanks to the Endesa app, you can monitor your consumption if you have digital billing activated. This allows you to check from wherever you are if the checklist was carried out correctly and if your house is really in 'eco mode'.