Where you place the charger matters, too. An adapter under a pillow, buried beneath clothing, pressed against bedding, or surrounded by other objects cannot release heat easily. Blocking ventilation can cause temperatures to rise unnecessarily.
Pay attention to warning signs. A charger that becomes unusually hot, makes a buzzing or crackling sound, smells like melting plastic, shows discoloration, or has a damaged cable should be unplugged immediately and replaced. Never ignore physical damage simply because the charger still appears to work.
Unplugging unused chargers also eliminates their standby power consumption. Although one adapter uses very little electricity, several unused chargers operating continuously can add up over time. Removing them from the outlet is an easy way to reduce unnecessary energy use.
There is another benefit: unplugging reduces the amount of time an adapter remains exposed to electrical stress and unexpected voltage events. A charger that spends less time energized may also avoid unnecessary wear, although this does not replace using a properly certified, quality product.
