{"id":6809,"date":"2022-01-26T13:37:05","date_gmt":"2022-01-26T13:37:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/01\/26\/should-you-leave-your-wi-fi-router-modem-on-all-the-time\/"},"modified":"2022-01-26T13:37:05","modified_gmt":"2022-01-26T13:37:05","slug":"should-you-leave-your-wi-fi-router-modem-on-all-the-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/01\/26\/should-you-leave-your-wi-fi-router-modem-on-all-the-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Should You Leave Your Wi-Fi Router & Modem on All the Time?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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If you\u2019re trying to save money, you might consider powering off your internet router<\/a> or modem when it\u2019s not in use. But they don\u2019t use as much power as you think, and doing so might slow you down or cause issues in the future. Here\u2019s why.<\/p>\n

Relatively Speaking, Routers Sip Power<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re used to electric or electronic products of the past, you might think that they use a lot of power, but most modern appliance-like electronics use a very minimal and reasonable amount of power that\u2019s almost negligible compared to high-current devices like microwaves or air conditioners.<\/p>\n

For example, according to Synology<\/a>, the highly-regarded RT2600ac router<\/a> uses about 10.8 watts of power when in use and about 7.94 watts when idle. That\u2019s about 1\/6th the power usage of a 60-watt incandescent bulb.<\/p>\n

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According to the EIA, the average price of electricity in the United States is 14.19 cents per kilowatt hour<\/a>. If the Synology RT2600ac router were powered on 24 hours a day, using 10.8 watts during peak times (for 12 hours) and 7.94 watts when idle (for 12 hours), then it would use about\u00a00.00937 kilowatts\/hour on average. That translates to an operating cost of $0.0013 per hour, $0.03 (3 cents) per day, $0.96 a month, or $11.65 per year to operate. Seems pretty reasonable for a device that gives your entire household internet access, doesn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n

Cable modems use similarly low amounts of power, so basically, you never need to worry about the electricity cost of operating a modem or internet router continuously. Can you save money by shutting them off? Yes, a tiny bit (96 cents if you leave your router powered off for an entire month in our example), but it might not be worth the downsides of doing so, as we\u2019ll learn ahead.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> The Best Wi-Fi Routers of 2021<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

They\u2019re Designed to Run Continuously<\/h2>\n

The engineers who create internet routers design them to run 24\/7 so they can always be available to provide you with internet access whenever you need it. As such, some routers don\u2019t even have power switches\u2014you\u2019d need to unplug them<\/a> to shut them down.<\/p>\n

One major advantage of leaving a router plugged in continuously is that it\u2019s always ready for action<\/a>. As soon as you unplug (or power off) a router, then power it back on, the device will go through a boot-up process that might include negotiating a new dynamic IP address<\/a> from your ISP.\u00a0 The process could take several minutes before your internet access is ready to use again.<\/p>\n

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Furthermore, while there isn\u2019t a broad consensus about this, some people think that powering an electronic device up and down repeatedly can potentially shorten its lifespan<\/a>. It puts stress on its internal components with the changes in current and temperatures involved. So if you want to increase the chances of your router or modem lasting longer, leave them turned on all the time\u2014as long as they\u2019re in use. If you don\u2019t use them for a long time (months, years), turn them off.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> Why Does Unplugging a Device Fix So Many Problems?<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The Convenience Factor<\/h2>\n

Another issue with shutting down your router or modem, especially at night, is that it might interrupt any automated cloud-based backups<\/a> you have set up on your PC, smartphone, or tablet. Some backup services like Apple iCloud<\/a> for iPhones wait until idle times to upload your data to Apple\u2019s servers for safekeeping. It\u2019s a great time to do that while you\u2019re asleep and not using your iPhone for other tasks.<\/p>\n

So unless you need to save $10 a year\u2014or you\u2019re not planning on using your router for an extended period of time (like going on a long vacation, leaving for a season, etc.)\u2014you\u2019re probably best off just leaving your router on all the time. Enjoy the internet!<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> Why You Never Need to Put Your Apple TV (or Other Modern Devices) to Sleep<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n