VAMPIRE appliances could be causing your energy bills to soar, even during a heatwave.
With temperatures set to reach 29 degrees today and with the Met Office predicting a scorching summer ahead, you may be forgiven for thinking that your energy bills will drastically go down.
Hot weather appliances could be draining more power than you think[/caption]
However, some ‘vampire appliances’ we use to help keep us cool in hot weather can use more energy than you think.
These appliances drain electricity when they’re left on standby mode for long periods of time.
Of course, how much you’ll actually pay depends on how much you use the appliance and what make and model you have.
All costs are calculated using the current price cap rates.
Between 1 April and 30 June 2025, the energy price cap is set at £1,849 per year for a typical household who use electricity and gas and pay by Direct Debit.
From fans that can keep you cool at night and fridge-freezers to smart speakers and garden lights, here are the summer culprits that could be costing you a small fortune…
Desktop fan
A desktop fan might be a must on a warm night, but it’s not completely free to run.
According to Uswitch, using a 35-watt fan for around 9 hours a day over a week will cost around 60p.
The exact costs will depend on your energy tariff and the device you have.
But you can use this equation to work it out: Cost = power (kilowatt) × time (hour) × cost of 1 kWh (pence).
Elise Melville, energy expert at Uswitch.com, said: “Leaving a fan running overnight for 12 hours to keep cool will only set you back 11p – as desktop fans don’t use much energy.
“You can cut the cost of running a fan by making sure you are using it as efficiently as possible.
“Some models come with an ‘eco’ setting, which means they lose less power so cost less to run.
“You should also make sure the fan is free of obstructions and not dusty, as this could cause the fan to work harder than it needs to.
“Placing a bowl of ice cubes in front of an electric fan will lower the temperature of the air being blown around the room.
“This might cool you down faster, so you don’t need to keep the fan on for as long.”
More ways to save on energy bills this summer
Switching off appliances around your home is one of the easiest ways to cut energy costs.
Senior Consumer reporter Olivia Marshall explains how.
Check if you still need your dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers can help speed up your drying time, while also reducing the amount of moisture and condensation created by drying clothes indoors.
However, you may not need it as often during the summer months when you can open the windows to ventilate your home instead.
You could consider changing the settings so it runs for less time, or turn it off completely if you can let the air in through your windows.
Take your lamps off a timer
During the dark winter months, lots of households chose to put their lights on a timer for security reasons.
As the days get longer, it’s worth checking these settings to see if your lights are coming on earlier than they need to.
Turn off any plug-in heaters
Electric heaters can be a useful way of making a room a little warmer in the winter.
Some of them also come with timers you can set when they come on.
If your gadget does, then it’s time to give the settings a tweak.
Electric shower
When temperatures soar, many of us find ourselves hopping in the shower more often – but that can quickly drive up your bills.
An electric shower uses a lot of power. A 10-minute rinse each day for a week can cost around £3.41.
To keep costs down, try to limit showers to four minutes, or switch to a cold shower now and then – especially in a heatwave.
You could also invest in an eco-shower head to cut water usage, which helps reduce both your energy and water bills if you’re on a meter.
Fridge freezer
Your fridge freezer is always on – and always using energy.
A typical model uses around 245.5kWh a year, which works out at £66.36 under the current energy price cap.
In summer, it’s likely working even harder to stay cool – especially if the room temperature rises or if the door is opened more often.
Keep it well stocked but not overloaded, don’t leave the door open longer than needed, and defrost regularly to help it run more efficiently.
Outdoor lighting
Enjoying your garden into the evening is part of the summer fun, but outdoor lights can sneakily bump up your bills.
If you’ve got four 60W lights on for an hour each night, that adds up to 45p a week.
Consider swapping to solar-powered lights, which soak up the sun’s energy during the day and don’t cost a penny to run.
You’ll save money – and they’re better for the environment too.
How do I calculate my energy bill?
BELOW we reveal how you can calculate your own energy bill.
To calculate how much you pay for your energy bill, you must find out your unit rate for gas and electricity and the standing charge for each fuel type.
The unit rate will usually be shown on your bill in p/kWh.The standing charge is a daily charge that is paid 365 days of the year – irrespective of whether or not you use any gas or electricity.
You will then need to note down your own annual energy usage from a previous bill.
Once you have these details, you can work out your gas and electricity costs separately.
Multiply your usage in kWh by the unit rate cost in p/kWh for the corresponding fuel type – this will give you your usage costs.
You’ll then need to multiply each standing charge by 365 and add this figure to the totals for your usage – this will then give you your annual costs.
Divide this figure by 12, and you’ll be able to determine how much you should expect to pay each month from April 1.
Smart speaker
You might not think twice about leaving your smart speaker plugged in – but even in standby mode, it uses energy.
But smart speakers are some of the most expensive devices to leave on standby.
Most smart speakers draw around 2 watts constantly when not in use.
That might sound low, but over a year, that could add £4.74 to your energy bill.
So if you’re not using it, switch it off at the wall and unplug it when possible.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
