IT is well and truly heating up across the UK and when the temperature spikes, you energy bill might do too.
There are several mistakes you could be making during the summer months that could add to your energy bill, according to an expert.
There are several mistakes you could be making during a the summer that add to bills
When the weather heats up we all tend to use various gadgets and tips and tricks to keep cool, but some are more cost effective than others.
Plus, with rising prices hitting households and energy bills still a big concern – everyone is looking to save where they can.
We spoke to Nigel Best, director of electrical training provider Electrician Courses 4U, about the common mistakes people make during the summer.
And calculated how much each mistake could end up costing you over the three month period.
Of course, how much each mistake adds to your bill depends on your usage.
From the more obvious to the lesser known, here are the simple mistakes and how to fix them.
Misusing fans – £14
Despite being one of the most commonly used appliances when the weather hots up, many Brits are guilty of misusing their fans and ultimately wasting cash, said Nigel.
A fan by itself doesn’t actually decrease the temperature of a room.
Rather, it circulates the air and creates a breeze – providing you with a cooling sensation.
Nigel said: “One of the key mistakes people make when using their fan is having their windows open and allowing hot air to enter.
“All this does is increase the temperature of the room and ultimately leads to warm air being circulated around you.”
He added that besides keeping your windows shut, another trick to consider is to place a bowl of ice cubes in front of a fan.
This means that cold air is being blown around the room providing you with a nice breeze.
Nigel explained: “With a bladeless fan having a power rating of 56 Watts and electricity currently costing 33.21p per kilowatt hour, it costs 2p to run one for an hour.
“As a result, if you were to leave your fan on for eight hours a day throughout the three-month summer you would be wasting just over £14 by misusing your fan.”
Overusing appliances that cause humidity – £64.50
Nigel explained that using household appliances that cause humidity can be a mistake too.
He said: “Dishwashers and washing machines are up there with the most energy-intensive appliances in your home.
“Not only that, they all produce steam which can cause humidity and make a home feel even warmer than normal.”
Limiting the use of these appliances during spells of warm weather is therefore a must, he said.
It might sound slightly more time-consuming but why not consider washing your dishes by hand instead of using a dishwasher.
The same goes for your clothes, especially smaller items such as pants, socks and shorts.
“Hand-washing your clothes will not only reduce your water usage but it will also limit any heat which would be generated from using a washing machine,” Nigel added.
“Failing to cut down on your dishwasher and washing machine use is likely to cost Brits up to £65 in energy bills,” Nigel said.
Dishwashers have an average power rating of 1.5kWh, one load of a dishwasher costs 50p, so using it to clean your dishes every day throughout the summer could therefore cost you £45.
He added: “Washing machines also have the same power rating as a dishwasher therefore putting a one hour cycle on three times a week would cost a total of £19.50.”
Leaving unused electrical appliances switched on – £100s
Electrical appliances such as TVs and laptops will produce heat when they’re switched on so if you’re trying to keep a room cool it’s important that you switch off any appliances you aren’t using.
Nigel said: “Appliances continue to consume power and emit heat when they’re left on standby mode so make sure you switch them off at the socket.
“If you need to charge your phone or laptop overnight it’s recommended that you find a plug socket in a corner away from your bed.”
It means you can more effectively manage the temperature in your bedroom and enjoy a better night’s sleep.
He said: “With the latest research from British Gas revealing the average monthly electricity cost for a medium-sized house with three people is just under £100, leaving unused appliances on over the course of the summer could lead to you wasting hundreds of pounds.”
Relying on an inefficient fridge freezer – £173
“Whether it’s to store ice lollies or to keep your bed sheets chilled, our fridge freezers get plenty of use in the summer,” said Nigel.
It means that failing to maintain your freezer throughout the year can be a costly mistake to make, especially as temperatures warm up.
He added: “If you haven’t defrosted your freezer recently it is likely that clumps of ice have built up, reducing the space you have for storage inside.
“Not only this, the ice will restrict airflow – causing your freezer to use more energy to maintain its cold temperature which will ultimately cost you more money to run the appliance.”
The energy expect recommends setting aside a day to fully defrost your freezer so you can save those pennies and make enough space to cool your bed linen.
“Failing to maintain your fridge freezer properly will result in your running costs comfortably topping £173,” Nigel explained.
That’s because the average fridge freezer has a power rating of 250W meaning it costs you 8p to run the kitchen appliance for an hour on the current rate.
It therefore costs £1.92 to run one for 24 hours.
He added: “Over the course of a three month summer this total cost tips over £173 meaning you’ll be paying well over this amount should you fail to keep it in a good condition.”
Leaving lights on – £43.20
It might be surprising but, according to Nigel, traditional light bulbs are extremely inefficient – giving off up to 90% of their energy as heat.
With that in mind you might want to limit your use of lights in the summer if you’re trying to keep cool.
Nigel added: “With us being blessed with longer daylight hours during the spring and summer there really shouldn’t be a need to turn your lights on.
“If you’ve kept your blinds or curtains drawn to block out the sun during the day, remember to open them at night so you can maximise the natural daylight – reducing the need to rely on lights.”
Making a simple change to the bulbs you use can also make a big difference.
Low-energy light bulbs or LED lights are much more energy-efficient and emit a lot less heat than incandescent light bulbs.
Nigel added: “It’s important to note that the number of lights within a home can vary greatly and as a result, so can the cost of leaving them switched on.
“That said, incandescent light bulbs have an average rating of 75W – costing you just over 2p to run for an hour.
“Although this may not sound like a lot, this total could soon mount up if you get into the unhealthy habit of turning your lights on in the summer rather than relying on the daylight from the longer days.”
In fact if you left just one bulb on for 24 hours for three months, at 2p a day that would rack up to a hefty £43.20.
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