UK households are being warned about a common nightly habit that significantly increases the risk of house fires: leaving devices on charge overnight. The practice, which involves phones, laptops, vapes, and power banks, can cause lithium-ion batteries to fail, especially when paired with the wrong charger.
Why overnight charging is dangerous
Lithium-ion batteries, found in most everyday gadgets, can fail if charged for extended periods. The single biggest factor increasing that risk is using a charger not designed for the specific device, which can deliver the wrong voltage or current and strain the battery.
Over time, or sometimes suddenly, this can cause the battery to overheat, swell, or, in more serious cases, catch fire. The risk extends beyond phones and laptops to smaller devices such as vapes, wireless earbuds, and handheld fans, which people often treat less carefully.
Insurance implications and expert advice
Beyond the immediate fire risk, this habit can affect home insurance claims. If a fire is found to have started from a device charged unsafely, insurers may treat it as negligence, leading to a reduced payout or a rejected claim.
A spokesperson for vape experts Ecigone said: "It's worth being really careful with any battery device, not just the obvious ones. Always use the charger that came with it, avoid leaving anything on charge overnight where possible, and if a device ever feels warm or looks different to normal, stop using it."
The spokesperson added: "That goes for all battery devices, big or small. Vapes specifically can also leak if the battery's damaged, so it's worth keeping an eye out and not using one again if that happens."
Practical safety steps
Anyone who regularly charges a phone, laptop, vape, or any other device overnight is encouraged always to use the correct charger, avoid charging near beds or soft furnishings, and never leave a device charging unattended while asleep.
