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Which Household Appliances Use The Most Electricity?
Written by David Walter, Chief Commercial Officer
9 Oct 2024 - Energy bills can creep up on us, especially when we don't realise which household gadgets and appliances are silently guzzling electricity in the background.
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It’s not just the obvious culprits, like the tumble dryer, but also those seemingly innocent standby devices that are racking up pounds.
Let’s dive into the real energy offenders and see what you can do to keep them in check.
The biggest energy guzzlers in your home
Here’s a breakdown of the worst energy offenders based on data from the Citizens Advice energy usage calculator.
Appliance | Average Daily Use | Estimated Yearly Cost |
|---|---|---|
Tumble Dryer | 3 hours 26 minutes per day | £162.94 |
Electric Shower | 10 minutes per day | £120.45 |
Fan Oven (180 °C) | 1 hour per day | £113.54 |
Washing Machine | 3 hours 41 minutes per day | £102.93 |
Desktop Computer | 7 hours per day | £78.69 |
Dishwasher | 3 hours 31 minutes per day | £76.81 |
Data based on the UK average electricity rate of 22.36p per kWh, as of August 2024. Check out the Citizens Advice energy usage calculator to see your own numbers.
1. The Tumble Dryer – Your Energy Nemesis
Yes, the trusty tumble dryer is a lifesaver when it’s raining outside, but it’s also a notorious energy drainer. Running it for over 3 hours a day? That’s going to cost you a cool £162.94 a year. Want to save? Try air-drying clothes more often, or look for a heat-pump dryer, which uses way less energy.
2. Electric Shower – Shorter Showers, Shorter Bills
A 10-minute shower every day adds up to £120.45 annually. If you like long, luxurious showers, your electricity bill won’t thank you for it. Consider swapping your showerhead for an energy-efficient model or cutting your shower time by a couple of minutes. Every little helps!
3. Fan Oven – Turn It Down, Preheat Less
Using the fan oven daily for just one hour? That’s £113.54 a year. If you’re the type who loves slow-cooking or batch baking, consider doing more of your cooking in one go. A microwave or air fryer can also do the job for smaller meals, slashing that energy consumption.
4. Washing Machine – Go Low and Slow
Washing your clothes every day for nearly 4 hours? That’s going to cost you over £100 a year. The good news is that most modern detergents work just as well at lower temperatures. Stick to 30 degrees and only wash full loads to save on both water and energy.
5. Desktop Computer – Power Down When You Can
That desktop you’re using for work or gaming? It’s costing you £78.69 a year if it’s on for 7 hours a day. Power-saving mode is your friend here, and if you’re stepping away for more than 20 minutes, just turn it off. Trust us, your electricity bill will thank you.
6. Dishwasher – Wait Until It’s Full
Running your dishwasher for over 3 hours a day could leave you with an annual cost of £76.81. But here’s the trick: only run it when it’s full. Many dishwashers these days also have eco modes that use less water and electricity—so use them!
Want more tips to cut down your usage? Check out our 40 Energy Saving Tips guide.
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What appliances use the most energy on standby mode?
Ever heard of phantom energy? It’s real, and it’s wasting around £250 a year in the average UK household. That’s right—appliances you’re not even using could be eating away at your bill. Here’s a quick rundown of what you might be losing to standby mode:
Appliance | Annual Standby Costs |
|---|---|
TV | £0.51 |
Blu-ray Player | £0.75 |
Smart Plug | £0.97 |
Wireless Speaker | £5.99 |
Soundbar | £4.43 |
Set-top Box | £2.56 |
TV Streamer | £2.21 |
The numbers might not seem like much individually, but let them add up, and you’ve got a hefty bill just from appliances that are sitting there doing nothing. Save yourself some cash by unplugging what you can or getting smart plugs that turn off automatically when devices aren’t in use. For more insight, check out the latest Which? research.
How to calculate how much electricity your appliances use
Want to get hands-on with figuring out your own appliance costs? The math is simple:
Energy (kWh) = Wattage×Usage Time (hours) / 1000
So, for example, of a 1500-watt space heater that runs for 2 hours a day:
1500 × 2 / 1000 = 3 kWh per day
Multiply that by your energy cost (in this case, 22.36p per kWh):
3 × 0.2236 / 100 = £0.67 per day
Over a year, that's nearly £245 just for one appliance ! Imagine what all your gadgets combined are costing you.
Cut down on your energy use today
Your household appliances don’t have to cost you a fortune. By being smarter about how you use them, you can keep your electricity bill under control. Start with the biggest offenders—like your tumble dryer and electric shower—and make sure you’re not letting phantom energy sneak up on you. For even more ways to cut down, head over to our Energy and Electricity pages.
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