CONSUMER group Which? has shared its top tips to help reduce the running costs of your appliances.
Which? has set out how much your appliances will cost when the energy price cap rises next month.
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Those who pay their energy bills by direct debit will see their bills increase by 80% from £1,971 to £3,549 on October 1.
Those who don’t pay for their energy by direct debit will see their bills hiked from £2,100 to £3,764.
Meanwhile those on prepayment meters will see their bills increase by £1,591 as the price cap for these customers moved from £2,017 a year to £3,608 a year.
Which? has shared how much more expensive it will cost to run a whole host of household appliances next month.
Emily Seymour, Which? energy editor, said: “Huge energy bill hikes are a cause of real concern for millions of households across the country, especially when many are already feeling the pressures of the cost of living crisis.
“If you are worried about your current energy consumption there are things you can do to cut costs, such as choosing energy-efficient appliances and making use of heating and hot water controls.
“You could also get further help by checking if you’re eligible for grant schemes and other support.”
We list the costs of running your washing machines, tumble dryer, dishwasher, fridge freezer and dishwasher and explain how you can cut costs, plus all the other energy bill help available,
Reduce washing machine costs by £24 a year
According to Which? under the new energy price cap (£3,549), average annual washing machine running costs will increase from just over £63 to more than £117.
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You can lower costs by avoiding running the machine repeatedly for small loads.
Experts at Which? say it’s better to wait until you can fill the machine to about 80% full.
And unless clothes are stained, consider washing at 30°C, which will cut energy use by 38 per cent on average and slash your bills by £12 a year.
Even then, dropping to a 20°C wash will use 62 per cent less energy and slash bills by £24 a year.
Cut tumble dryer costs by £100’s a year
Which?’s calculations found that average heat pump tumble dryer running costs will increase from £56 to £104 per year.
Condenser tumble dryers are the most energy-hungry and average running costs are already £140 and will go up to £260 per year after the new price cap has taken effect.
According to Which? The easiest way to save here is to consider other ways of drying laundry, such as hanging outdoors if you have access to an outdoor clothesline, or using an indoor airer.
Cleaning expert Ann Russell said you can save hundreds every year by air drying your clothes.
If you do need to use a tumble dryer, be sure to clean the lint filter every time you use as a dirty machine can add £20 to your bills each year.
And if you’re looking to replace and old energy inefficient dryer with a newer eco version you could save £137 a year.
Use your dishwasher correctly to save £15 a year
The average running cost for a full-size dishwasher will rise from £83 to £153.
For a slimline model, you’ll be paying on average £136, up from £73.
Most dishwashers also come with an eco setting and you can save around £15 a year if you switch to using this cycle instead of a normal times programme.
Another way to save is to ensure you’re not over or under-filling the dishwasher. Wash full loads rather than running it for just a few items.
Washing up by hand might seem like a cheaper option, but hand washing uses much more water than a dishwasher and if you have a water meter it could add to your bills.
If you’re looking for a new dishwasher, new eco models can save the average households £44 a year.
Keep fridge freezers clean to save £45 a year
The average integrated fridge freezer currently costs £73 to run, which will rise to £136 in October.
Freestanding and American models cost £84 and £120 respectively to run, which will increase to £155 and £222 a year from October.
To ensure your fridge freezer is running as efficiently as possible, clean the condenser coils on the back, as dust on the coils can prevent the fridge from cooling properly.
Replace damaged door seals to ensure cold air cannot escape and be wasted and let food cool down completely before refrigerating.
Not keeping your fridge freezer clean could cost a whopping £45 more each year.
You should also defrost your freezer regularly to prevent a build up of ice.
Ice acts as an insulator which makes your fridge work harder, so it’ll cost more to run.
If you’re looking to replace an old model with a new eco friendly version you could save £138 on your energy bills each year.
Swap out ovens with an air fryer to save £100’s
Built-in ovens don’t cost as much to run as other key appliances, but it still pays to use yours efficiently.
The average electric oven costs £66 per year to run, which will rise to £122, while a typical gas oven costs £20 which will rise to £43.
It is possible to reduce costs by bulk cooking – cook larger amounts of food at a time, and eat them as meals spread across the week, rather than running the oven every day.
However you could save £100’s every year by switching to using smaller appliances, such as air fryers or combi microwaves.
Julie Cooke said she saved hundreds of pounds by making the switch.
Embrace smart central heating controls and save £100 a year
Smart heating controls can cut your bills and improve your comfort by making better use of the heating energy you pay for.
Which? estimates that a medium-sized household could save at least £100 a year by using smart controls.
The Sun’s estimated suggest that the average households could save £164 a year by investing in a smart thermostat.
We’ve also listed the five best smart thermostats you can buy right now including Nest, Hive and Tado.
Check if you can get up to £1,500 in energy grants
Energy suppliers offer support for those who are struggling to pay their bills.
Those on Universal Credit and older legacy benefits could get over £3,000 in bill support.
There are plenty of energy grants and schemes open to help you out if you’re struggling.
British Gas has recently confirmed that it’ll pay its most vulnerable customers grants worth £750 to help with sky-high bills and some have been granted £1,500 in help through the British Gas Energy Trust.
Ask your supplier what’s on offer and how to apply, or check here:
There’s also a one-off fuel voucher from your energy supplier if you’re on a prepayment metre.
What help is already available?
From September 20, over six million people with disabilities are set to receive £150 to help with the rising cost of living.
From October the first, all UK households are set to receive the £400 energy bills rebate.
The payment will be made up of six discounts between October and March next year.
Households will receive a £66 energy bill discount in October and November and a discount worth £67 in December, January, February and March.
We’ve listed how the leading energy suppliers plan to pay households the discount and are waiting on others to respond.
The way you’ll be paid will depend on how you pay for your energy.
If you’re on a credit meter the discount will come off your bills, but if you’re on a prepayment meter you’ll get a voucher.
Check with your supplier to confirm how you’ll receive the cash.
In November, a £300 one-off “Pensioner Cost of Living Payment” will be paid out to eight million households.
