My smart energy monitor shows phantom usage spikes at night
Home Nura guide — category: Home Energy Monitors
Diagnosis
This symptom is common and usually harmless. Most of the time, a targeted cleaning or a small change in how you use the device fixes it in under 10 minutes.
What to do
Unplug the device, let it cool down, then clean the affected part with warm water and mild dish soap (never an abrasive scrubber on nonstick coatings). Put it back together, plug it in and run a short empty cycle to make sure it works.
Repair or replace?
If the problem is still there after these checks and the appliance is out of warranty, weigh the repair estimate against the cost of a new model.
If you're replacing it
Home Energy Monitors: the picks from our buying guide
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Best overall
Shelly Pro 3EM
Three CT clamps, three-phase support, bidirectional metering for solar and local Home Assistant integration.
Photo: © Shelly (Allterco Robotics)
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Best value
Shelly EM Gen3
Compact two-channel single-phase monitor that tracks whole-home use plus one extra circuit, over Wi-Fi.
Photo: © Shelly (Allterco Robotics)
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Best for French Linky meters
Lixee ZLinky_TIC
Connects to the TIC terminals on France's Linky meter, draws its power from the meter, runs on Zigbee 3.0 and needs no electrician.
Photo: © LiXee
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Other common problems in this category
These issues affect the same type of appliance — each one comes with a diagnosis and the steps to take.
- Home Energy MonitorsMy home energy monitor shows the wrong reading
- Home Energy MonitorsMy home energy monitor stopped reporting data
- Home Energy MonitorsHow do I install a home energy monitor without touching the utility meter?
- Home Energy MonitorsMy energy monitor's usage history gets wiped after every firmware update
Frequently asked questions
Check the manufacturer's warranty first: how long it lasts and what it covers vary by brand and model, so read the terms for yours and keep your proof of purchase. If you bought it new in the EU, a two-year legal guarantee also applies (Directive (EU) 2019/771), covering defects present at delivery, whenever they first show up.
If you're still within the seller's return window, a return or exchange is usually the fastest fix. After that, go through the manufacturer's support team: it handles warranty claims and can often repair the unit even after the warranty has run out. Either way, keep your proof of purchase.
Our public methodology lowers the Nura Score /10 of any model in our Home Energy Monitors guide whose recurring failures show up in owner reviews. A model that breaks down too often never makes it to the top, whatever the brand.
Generally, yes, if you stick to routine maintenance: cleaning, replacing a gasket, recalibrating. Irreversible changes to the hardware are what can cause problems, so read your warranty terms before you open anything up. Anything the manufacturer's manual walks you through is the safe zone.
Your proof of purchase, the exact model name and a record of the symptom: photos, a short video, the sound it makes and any error code. Note when the problem started and what you've already tried. With all that in hand, support can pin down the problem much faster.