KITCHEN appliances are a part of everyday life from washing machines to fridges.
But how much does it really add to you energy bills to keep them running?
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With bills on the rise, any of us are becoming more conscious of out energy use.
And while you can turn your heating off in warmer weather, your fridge is something you want to keep running all year round.
In fact experts recommend you never turn off your fridge, as it could pose a serious risk to your health, with food turning bad.
Depending on the type of fridge you have, it can cost anywhere between £41 and £179 a year to run.
It’ll be on the lower end if you have a mini-fridge, but a large American-style fridge freezer will be at the higher end.
Of course the exact cost will depend on the model of fridge, the size, any special eco settings, how you use it and how much you pay for energy.
But the average cost per year is about £83, Which? told The Sun.
That’s based on the current charge of 28p per kWh for electricity on price cap tariff.
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Your costs might be higher or lower depending on if you’re on a fixed tariff and when you agreed it. You can see how much you’re paying by checking your bill.
That price will rise as electricity costs shoot up again this winter, as the price cap will increase again from October 1.
Emily Seymour, Which? energy editor, told The Sun: “If you are worried about your current energy consumption there are things you can do to cut costs such as not overfilling your fridge, keeping the coils clean and not allowing ice to build up in freezers and freezer drawers by defrosting them regularly.”
How to save money on your fridge without turning it off
If you overfill the fridge, you restrict the air flow which means more energy is wasted trying to keep the space cool.
So make sure you only stock up on what you need. This can also tackle expensive food bills, especially as prices have risen by a further 11%.
Experts at Energyhelpline previously told The Sun: “Unclutter your fridge, so make sure your fridge isn’t packed to the brim.
“Especially near the ventilating outlets as keeping space at the top and sides of your fridge helps the cool air move around easier.”
But with that said you shouldn’t leave it empty either.
Keep your fridge and freezer filled with things like bottles of tap water that will slot into the empty space in the fridge.
You can also fill empty space in the freezer with screwed up newspaper – once these freeze over they’ll keep the rest of the contents cooler, so the appliance won’t have to work as hard.
Keeping the coils at the back of the fridge clean is important too.
If you let dust or dirt gather, the cooling systems will need to work harder and will end up using as much as 25% more energy than when it’s clean.
That could cost a whopping £45 more a year if you have the most energy-hungry model.
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.
Meanwhile Uswitch experts shave said that if it’s practical, place your fridge away from your cooker and make sure it isn’t in direct sunlight.
That’s because it’s always going to operate better if it’s in a cool spot, and doesn’t have to battle with outside heat elements.
They also advised that you should keep the fridge at least 10cm from the wall, as this will allow the coils to work most efficiently.
Check seals are in good order too, this is a bit like when you’re plugging up your home from nasty draughts – you don’t want either the cool air to escape or hot air to creep in as more energy is going to be needed to counter either scenario.
And keep your fridge at between 3°C and 5°C, and for your freezer it’s -18 °C.
Those temperatures are recommended to keep your food cool and at a healthy and safe level without before so cold that your fridge has to work any harder than it has to.
Top tips on other energy-sucking appliances
Fridges aren’t the only expensive kitchen appliance – plenty of others sometimes fall under the radar.
We’ve listed a few to keep you on your toes:
Tumble dryers
Tests show tumble dryers are the most costly appliance to run in the kitchen.
They cost the average household a whopping £140 a year.
But if you have a heat pump model this price is slashed in half – as they are far more energy efficient.
In warmer weather, hang your clothes outside to dry if you can, and you could save money by using a heated clothes airer too.
Dishwasher
Dishwashers can be pricey when you tot up how much they cost over the course of a year.
They set the average household back £79.38.
The obvious way to save money is to only run your appliance when it is full – or go back to the good old fashioned sink.
If you are using a dishwasher, wait until you have a full load and use the eco-setting if you have one.
Oven
The average built-in electric oven costs £64.18 per year to run.
In general, electric ovens are more energy efficient and do better in cost-saving tests.
Turn off the oven a few minutes before food is ready, leaving it to continue cooking in what’s left of the heat (check it’s piping hot before eating though!)
You can also get away with not pre-heating the oven in most cases too.
Where possible, consider using the microwave instead as these are much cheaper to run.
Washing machine
Washing machines fall only just behind ovens in annual running costs at £63.25.
To save money – and the planet – wash your clothes at a lower temperature.
If your machine is only half full, you might want to hold off from hitting the start button too. Waiting until you have a full load of washing means you’re likely to do fewer cycles through the year.
Which? recently found that doing one big wash four times a week reduces energy consumption by 17% compared to someone doing three smaller washes every day.
Here’s how to use your radiators correctly so you’re not wasting cash.
And here’s a little-known boiler trick cut one woman’s’ bill by nearly £100 a month.
