The most expensive appliance to run based on cost per house is the electric shower – the latest data shows it will set you back £2.14 an hour, which means for a famiy of four it could easily add up to an extra £417.32 in electricity costs each year
There are a number of common household appliances that could be increasing your bills by hundreds of pounds, according to a new study.
Vacuum Wars analysed the average energy usage of common household appliances in light of the October energy price cap. The most expensive appliance to run based on cost per house is the electric shower. The latest data shows it will set you back £2.14 an hour. According to Anglian Water, the average Brit spends about eight minutes in the shower, meaning showering daily would run up a yearly bill of £104.33—just for one person. A family of four in the same circumstances could easily add up to an extra £417.32 in electricity costs from showering each year.
The second most expensive appliance to run is an immersion heater, costing 74p. Assuming an immersion heater is set to run for two hours per day, this quickly adds up to a staggering £536.55 per year, on average. Surprisingly the third most expensive appliance to run is the kettle, which will set you back 67p per hour, according to the study. If you make a hot drink with a kettle four or five times a day, an electric kettle can easily be powered for 20 minutes a day when boiled throughout the day, resulting in a yearly cost of £81.97.
Grills and ovens are the fourth on the list, with an hourly running cost of £0.54. According to Power NI, ovens and grills are used for an hour per day, on average, over the course of a year, resulting in an extra £196.74 each year in electricity bills. When it comes to the cheapest appliance to run in terms of per-hour cost, extractor fans are the cheapest appliance to run at just £0.002 an hour, which adds up to 67p per year.
Christopher White, CEO of Vacuum Wars, commented on the study, said: “The findings from this study highlight that certain household appliances, particularly those used frequently for daily tasks, are some of the most expensive to run in the UK. This is especially impactful given the dominance of such appliances in households. These small costs add up over time, creating a significant financial burden for households.
“Encouraging more efficient use of appliances, investing in energy-saving models, and adopting alternative methods for everyday tasks could all contribute to lowering energy consumption and ultimately, bringing down household bills. Additionally, increased awareness about the best times to use high-energy appliances, such as during off-peak hours, could reduce costs.”
Full list of appliances and what it costs to run per hour
- Electric Shower – £2.14
- Immersion Heater – £0.74
- Kettle – £0.67
- Grill / Oven – £0.54
- Electric Fan Heater – £0.50
- Iron – £0.48
- Hob (per ring) – £0.37
- Air Fryer – £0.34
- Microwave – £0.26
- Vacuum Cleaner – £0.18
