The 10 most costly household appliances

The standby thief

Although the individual cost of running appliances may seem minimal, it does however in its totality have the possibility to run high and add up over time. These are the top 10 most expensive household items when to run for one hour according to Utilita (2022), ranked from most expensive to least expensive. Remember that prices and consumption will vary on an individual basis depending on a multitude of factors which may affect the final price.

1. Shower

Specifically electric showers have the highest consumption. To save on your showers, take shorter showers and avoid scalding temperatures. Switch to showers with an Eco save function, they will automatically save water and power, while still keeping your shower at a comfortable temperature.

2. Heating

Beyond turning down the temperature a bit, setting timers and dressing warmer when inside, there are some more things you can do to keep your home warm. Check for gaps and make sure no cold air is slipping in or warm air out, make sure to check windows as well. Don't have any furniture in front of radiators as that prevents the heat from spreading evenly throughout the room.

3. Electric heater

Although electric heaters are relatively high in cost, they are lower in cost than the general heating, so opt for electric heaters especially heaters that have an A+ or more rating, as they consume less energy.

4. Fan assisted oven

Your oven is another high consuming energy product. To cut down on your oven use, try batch cooking so you don't have to use the oven as much. If you're buying a new oven opt for ovens with an energy rating of A+ or more.

5. Kettle

Although many Brits think that the kettle is the biggest energy thief in the home, it's not as bad as you might initially have thought, but do be mindful of how much you use your kettle. Try to not cook more than necessary to cut down on boiling time and don't leave your kettle on standby over night. When buying a new kettle try to get one with temperature control, a water meter as well as automatic shut-off.

6. Hairdryer

Many might be surprised to see the hairdryer topping the list, beating out both tumble dryers and dishwashers. Try to let your hair air dry a bit before using the hairdryer to cut down on the drying time. You can also opt for eco-friendly models to save power.

7. Tumble dryer

With high humidity and cold temperatures, many rely on tumble dryers for dry clothes. But now that we're going into warmer times try to avoid using the tumble dryer as much as possible by hanging out your laundry and letting it air dry. When choosing a tumble dryer try buying one with a A+ rating or higher as well as one that has lower energy consumption.

8. Dishwasher

If you have a dishwasher try to load it fully before running it. Cleaning your dishes a bit before loading them means that you don't need to choose the most powerful programs. When choosing a dishwasher try to choose one with an energy class rating of A.

9. Toaster

Morning toast is a must for many, but after breakfast try unplugging the toaster so that it's not running on standby power during the rest of the day. Also try eating together with your family so you don't need to toast more times than necessary. When buying a toaster try choosing one that has lower energy consumption

10. Iron

If ironing is part of your daily life you can save by cutting down your use of it. Try letting as much as possible air dry while hanging from a hanger, you can tug a bit at the fabric to get rid of the worst wrinkles as well as set the shape of the garment. Then if you must iron something try ironing the things just before you plan to use them so as to avoid having to iron once again if you've put them in your wardrobe in between. When buying an iron try choosing one with automatic shutdown so that you minimise standby power use.

Want more tips on how to improve your energy consumption? We have three simple tips to help you out.

See all the best Black Friday deals on energy saving products.