WINTER is coming and bills are rising leaving many of us worrying about costs.
But there are some simple ways to save cash if you look closely around your home.
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Everyday appliances could be costing more than you think, adding to your bills unnecessarily.
Here we reveal exactly how much some could really be costing you – from kettles to tumble dryers and washing machines.
The Centre For Sustainable Energy has revealed the approximate average cost of running a range of common appliances.
But remember, that device and how you use them are all different and this is just an indication.
For example a fridge has a low wattage rating, but it uses a lot of electricity as it is in constant use.
Meanwhile, an iron uses a high amount of power, but costs less overall because you only use it for a short period of time each time you use it.
The costs are based on a unit price for electricity of 34p per kilowatt per hour (kWh), which is the average direct debit rate under the new Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) which came in from October 1.
Kettle
You’ll pay around 17p for every ten minutes you use a kettle, on average.
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That’s based on one with a power rating of 3,000W, so the exact amount depends on your particular one.
You don’t need to cut back on your cuppas to save cash though.
Overfill it and you’re boiling more water than you need to, costing extra energy and crucially money.
Tashema Jackson, consumer champion at energyhelpline, previously told The Sun: “Adjusting how much water you use and the temperature you boil your water to, can save you around £6 a year.”
Tumble dryer
Another energy heavy appliance is the tumble dryer, costing 85p per hour of use.
As ever it will depend on the exact device you have, how often you use it and for how long, but this estimate is based on one using 2,500w.
Will Owen, energy expert at Uswitch.com, previously told The Sun: “They can be used more efficiently if you only run them when they are full, or by making use of your appliance’s eco mode, if it has one.
“The longer your tumble dryer’s cycle, the more money it will cost you.
“If your clothes are dripping wet, it will have to run much longer to get them dry, increasing your energy bill dramatically.“
The most obvious way to save money is to hang them out instead of using a tumble dryer.
It won’t cost you a penny, but with temperatures dipping as autumn hits, keep in mind that getting your load dry could take longer.
Oven
Putting your oven on will set you back roughly 71p per hour.
That’s based on power rating of 2,100W, so again it can vary depending on your exact model.
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
Putting on a clothes wash will cost you a similar amount as they use the same amount of power – so around 71p per hour.
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.
Oil filled radiator
Oil radiators use an electrical element to heat up thermal oil inside.
Of course, heating up the element requires energy and that affects your bills.
At 2000w of power, you’ll be using roughly 68p per hour of use.
The exact amount you’ll pay on running your oil-filled radiator depends on the model you have and how much you use it.
If you’re worried about using the heating, then there are other more cost-effective ways to keep warm this winter.
On average, USwitch estimates it will cost 24p to run a heated blanket for one hour a day for seven days from October – which is considerably cheaper than using an oil-filled radiator.
You could also stock up on hot water bottles too.
Microwave
Running a microwave will cost you around 5.7p per ten minutes of use.
That depends on how you use it of course, and the model – this estimate is based on one with 1,000w power.
But Energy Saving Trust says that a microwave is more energy efficient than a traditional gas or electric oven.
That’s because microwaves only heat your food and not the air space inside, which means they use less energy to cook your dinner.
It’s always quicker and its smaller size (compared to an oven) means that the heat is more focused on whatever’s being cooked, it advises, so opt for this appliance whenever possible.
