5 home appliances that will ‘quickly guzzle away lots of cash’ when left long on standby

5 home appliances that will ‘quickly guzzle away lots of cash’ when left long on standby (Image: Getty)

While household appliances on standby don’t use a significant amount of energy, leaving them in this mode for an “extended” period can “quickly guzzle away a lot of cash”, warned Nicholas Auckland from Trade Radiators.

With another rise in gas and electricity bills being confirmed for the new year, households need to save wherever possible.

Between January 1 and March 31, 2025, gas prices will be capped at 6.34p per kilowatt hour (kWh) and electricity at 24.89p per kWh.

This means the annual bill for a dual-fuel direct debit household using a typical amount of energy will go up to £1.738 per year, an increase of £21 from the previous cap.

Nicholas has identified five home appliances that households should keep an eye on due to their potential to consume substantial amounts of energy.

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Washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers are the biggest guzzlers of energy in homes (Image: Getty)

1. Washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers

These appliances are responsible for 14 percent of energy bills because of the considerable amount of water and air that needs heating for them to function effectively.

To “save money”, Nicholas advised households to opt for a cold wash or use the eco setting. He added: “I also recommend drying your clothes outside or inside if possible instead of using a tumble dryer at all.

“Make sure that you only ever use any of these appliances when they're full, as this will save money on your bills as you will need to use them less frequently.”

2. Fridges and freezers

Accounting for roughly the same percentage of the energy bill as washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers, these appliances “cost so much because they have to be turned on all the time”.

The expert suggested: “I recommend making sure that your appliances are set to the correct temperature so they’re not too cold and not too hot, which could be using excess energy. I also recommend investing in good, high-quality fridges and freezers that have a high energy efficiency rating.”

Its worth investing in high-quality fridges and freezers that have a high energy efficiency rating (Image: Getty)

Nicholas asserted that these appliances “last for years and years” if they’re well maintained and of high quality, so it’s certainly worth the investment to save money not only on energy bills but also on future replacements.

3. TVs and game consoles

These appliances are often left on for extended periods in standby mode, which can “quickly guzzle away a lot of cash when it comes to energy bills”. The expert stated: “I would say that these appliances account for around six to 10 percent of your energy bills in a modern home, especially homes with multiple numbers of both televisions and game consoles.”

To save money on these, choose energy-efficient devices when you first purchase them, and “make sure to turn them off at the wall” when not in use to avoid standby mode.

Nicholas cautioned: "Not only does standby continually use energy, but it can prove dangerous as there is still electricity flowing from your sockets to your devices, and if they were to overheat it could be dangerous."

4. Lights

This is less of an issue in summer due to the longer daylight hours, but outdoor lights can still be problematic. To save money on lighting costs, switch to LED lightbulbs.

The expert advised: “By doing this, you can save around £70 to £75 a year on energy bills. Similarly, you can save around £25 to £30 a year just by making sure that you switch off all your lighting when you're not in the room/it doesn't need to be on.

“Lights are one of those things that seem small in the short term, but long-term they add a lot to your energy bills (around five percent of your energy bills will be lighting price).”

5. Ovens, kettles, microwaves and air fryers

Cooking appliances are known to account for roughly five percent of energy bills. However, this could increase depending on the efficiency of the appliance, the amount of cooking you do and the number of appliances you have.

Nicholas disclosed: “Air fryers and other modern cooking appliances use the least energy. To save money using these appliances, I recommend ensuring that they are all positioned correctly within your kitchen.

“I also suggest opting for energy-efficient appliances from the outset. When it comes to using kettles, it's crucial that you only boil as much water as you’re about to use. Similarly, you should only use the hobs that fit the specific pan you're boiling/cooking with."