WHERE you put your kitchen appliances could be having a big impact on your bills.
Experts say that the location of your items is more important than we think, but there are easy ways to fix it and reduce your bill.
The average energy bill is currently capped at £2,500 and while bills are expected to drop by £400 in July, cash is still tight for many due to soaring costs.
It means bill payers are set on saving as much money around the house as possible.
And if you can save cash by doing something as simple as moving your air fryer then why not try it?
We spoke to various experts to find out just how much your gadgets and essentials could be adding to your bill.
Of course how much you’ll actually save depends on how much you use the appliance and what make and model you have.
Below we reveal the full list of kitchen appliances that could be in the wrong place and adding £1,667 to your bill.
Washing machine – £1,350
There’s a chance that storing your washing machine in the wrong place could make it run inefficiently and cause mould in your home.
You could end up spending more as a result.
Calling someone out to fix a problem could cost up to £180, according to Checkatrade.
The online trade directory says hiring professionals to clear mould from your entire house can cost a hefty £1,170.
That gives you a total cost of £1,350 – which is no small fee.
The exact amount it could cost you will depend on how big the problem is, where you live and who you employ to do the job.
We spoke to Alastair Cooke, a cleaning manager at Miele.
He told The Sun that while most people decide where to put the appliance based on the available space in the house, it actually may require more thought.
He said: “Exposure to high or low temperatures, as well as humidity, can cause the washing machine’s components and plumbing to malfunction or deteriorate over time.
“This can result in reduced efficiency and potentially costly repairs.”
It’s best to keep your washing machine near an external wall or a window so that you can have a vent fixed through the wall to allow moisture to escape outside.
It’s always important to remember to open the door after a wash cycle as it could lead to mould building up with the machine itself.
Fridge freezer – £75
The position of your fridge freezer could have a bigger impact on energy costs than you realise.
A fridge or freezer’s main job is to stay cool and keep your food fresh.
But without a steady air flow, the appliance won’t be able to regulate temperatures inside properly, making it work harder.
If you don’t leave enough space around it, for example, it could cut energy efficiency by 15%.
Nicholas Auckland, heating and energy expert from Trade Radiators, said: “Many factors can affect the efficiency of the fridge, including how full it is, what temperature it’s set to and even the types of food and material of the containers used inside.
“One certainly is that the position of the fridge in the room and how near or far away it is to other appliances has an impact on how hard it has to work and the annual cost of running it.
“A poorly located fridge, next to heat sources like ovens and radiators, positioned in direct sunlight or fitted in a space with inadequate ventilation around it, can be costing you more money than it should.”
Nicholas estimates the wrong placement could be adding up to £75 annually, based on the current price cap.
He added to make sure there’s around 5cm of free space around the sides, the back and top of the refrigerator for ventilation.
“Try to have a distance of 50cm between the oven and the fridge. Heat from the oven can make the fridge work harder,” he said.
If possible, avoid storing the kitchen essential in a stuffy room with no windows or doors, as this will restrict fresh air too.
Instead, pop it in the coolest spot in your kitchen, and make sure there’s room between the back of the appliance and the wall by at least 10cm to allow the coils to work most efficiently.
Air fryer – £32
Many savvy billpayers have swapped the oven for an air fryer in an effort to keep costs down.
The gadget has become a must-have item for many families because it typically uses less energy to cook than heating up a traditional oven.
But having your fryer in the wrong place could be adding unnecessary costs to your bill.
Nicholas said households need to consider where the cooking tool will work efficiently and effectively.
He told The Sun: “Air fryers should be placed on heat-resistant kitchen countertops, and at least 13cm away from the wall and other appliances/items.
“This is because air fryers can reach temperatures of 200c inside, so they emit a lot of heat and need to be kept away from non heat-resistant materials in order to prevent burning.”
A 1,000W air fryer costs 34p to run for an hour, according to Nicholas.
And depending on its size, a whole chicken takes around 45 minutes to an hour to cook.
It means it should cost 34p at most to cook the chicken.
However, Nicholas said that if an air fryer isn’t used correctly and placed in a suitable space, cooking time increases by half an hour.
In this case, it could cost an extra 9p to cook the chicken, instead of 34p.
It may not sound like much but an extra half an hour of cooking each day over a year adds up to £32.04.
Slow cooker – £50
A slow cooker should be treated in the same way as an air fryer, according to Nicholas.
This is because they’re very similar appliances.
Nicholas said: “How much you save on your energy bill depends on what type of slow cooker you have, but you should generally place it well away from other appliances and walls.
“Also make sure to keep it clean and tidy to ensure that it works at full efficiency.”
It costs around £95 a year to run a typical slow cooker but the harder it has to work the more it’ll cost.
“Having your slow cooker in a bad spot will likely add at least £50 to your bills,” Nicholas explained.
That’s why having it in a good spot is key to saving cash, try to find somewhere a bit more out in the open away from walls and crowded countertops.
Kettle – £100
The main issue with kettles is that they produce a lot of steam, Nicholas explained.
Wherever your kettle is placed, you have to remember that that area will become steamy frequently, and excess steam is one of the main causes of mould and damp in a property.
Nicholas said: “It’s vital that you place your kettle away from other appliances and walls.
“I recommend placing it near a window so that you can easily let the steam escape.”
Although you won’t necessarily save anything on your energy bills by making sure there’s not too much steam in your kitchen, you can save on mould and damp repair costs, like with a washing machine.
You also save on the need for installing and running a dehumidifier.
He added: “In the UK, a mould removal service is around £15 an hour, and a dehumidifier is around £100, plus any running costs.
“By making sure your kettle isn’t damaging the rest of the kitchen, this means you could save £15 or £100 by preventing damage in the first place.”
It’s important to note that the chances are that your kitchen is already well ventilated with an extractor fan, so it’s very unlikely that using a kettle a couple of times every day will cause too much steam.
But if it’s kept in the wrong place, like right up against a wall, there are more chances of damage.
Dishwasher – £60
When it comes to your dishwasher placement, the most important thing to do is keep it away from your fridge or freezer.
Nicholas explained: “This is because your dishwasher gets warm, and produces a lot of hot steam when open, and the last thing you want to do is make your fridge and freezer warmer than they should be.
“This would result in them requiring more energy in order to run effectively and maintain the cool temperature they need.”
If your dishwasher is too close to your fridge freezer then you could be looking at losing around £60 a year, according to Nicholas.
Get your house in order
Meanwhile, it’s not just your kitchen appliances that could be in the wrong place in your home – your sofa could be too.
It might be worth moving your child’s Xbox or PS3 too because it could also be adding up to £50 to your electricity bill.
The position of your heated airer could also play a part too, we reveal where you should move it to to save cash.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
