Britons called for two appliances to be disconnected that guzzle electricity when not in use
HOMEOWNERS unknowingly spend large sums of money every year on two electrical appliances left on standby.
Disconnecting them can help keep costs down, while energy bills are predicted to rise by around 10%.
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It is known that appliances such as clothes dryers, boilers and ovens should be used sparingly due to their high running costs.
However, they aren’t the only electrical appliances to consider if you’re trying to avoid a big bill.
Consumer magazine Which one? Recommends unplugging appliances when not in use as they drain electricity.
Many people keep gadgets like Alexa constantly plugged in for convenience.
Read more money saving tips
However, wireless speakers, smart speakers and soundbars are the worst offenders.
“They are the most power-hungry gadgets on standby,” said Which?
They estimate that leaving the items on standby for 20 hours a day costs around £6 a year.
Their money-saving unplugging tip may seem like a small amount, but when combined with other gadgets, it can become expensive.
According to Lincolnshire LivePCs, game consoles and TVs all use energy.
This can be easily avoided as modern technology is designed to wake up quickly after being completely turned off.
Gadgets that continue to drain energy when not in use are called “vampire devices.”
Ian Palmer-Smith, appliances expert at Domestic and General, said it is not enough to just switch off electrical products.
He has eight appliances that he always unplugs to save money.
These include washing machines, dishwashers, microwaves, printers and even coffee machines.
5 Money-saving tips for autumn/winter
1. Make your home draught-free
It takes time and money to heat your home, so it’s important that you do everything you can to keep the heat in. Close your doors and windows and fill any gaps with weather stripping.
2. Turn down your thermostat
According to Energy UK, lowering the thermostat by just one degree Celsius can reduce your heating costs by up to 10% and save you around £85 a year. And if you don’t have a thermostat, installing one can save you up to $70 per year!
3. Move furniture
Ensure that large, bulky furniture such as sofas does not block the radiators.
4. Wash clothes at a lower temperature and add extra spin cycle
Unless it is bedding, towels or very dirty items, turn the temperature down to 20 or 30 degrees and rotate the machine twice to remove excess water.
5. Heat the person, not the house
There is no point in heating up a room with no one in it, so pay close attention to which radiators are on.
Dryers and TVs should also be unplugged when not in use.
“Appliances that need to heat water use a lot of energy, which is why dishwashers, washing machines and kettles score so high in terms of energy consumption,” he said. The Express.
“They use more energy than others on standby because they have to be ready to heat water immediately and on demand.”
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