Several home appliances can sap away small amounts of power leading to a higher energy bill, but there’s one you should never leave on standby.
Numerous households might not realise that various home gadgets can quietly drain modest amounts of electricity, accumulating costs on your energy bill over time.
Whilst they’re not the primary culprits behind enormous electricity bills, switching them off represents a crucial tactic for energy conservation in every household.
And households will be more concerned about their energy usage after the regulator Ofgem raised the energy price cap, meaning millions face higher bills.
Eric Bramlett, a property expert and proprietor of Bramlett Residential, has identified the top five appliances you “should never” leave on standby, outlining the significance of powering them down completely.
Gaming consoles
These powerful devices feature energy-saving capabilities but also come with considerable disadvantages. They possess an on/off button that places them into a low-power standby state.
Nevertheless, numerous users neglect to switch them off entirely, or they turn off the television whilst leaving the console running, which can prove costly.
Eric said: “They can be real energy hogs on standby. A client of mine saw their energy bills drop after turning off their console when not in use.”
Specialists from the Energy Saving Trust have revealed that gaming consoles account for approximately six percent of a household’s energy bill.
Although this may not seem substantial, over time, switching off your console can result in noticeable savings.
The Energy Saving Trust expert also stressed not to neglect updating consoles as it “can improve energy management”.
Satellite TV boxes
Eric shared: “A friend of mine found that unplugging their cable box when not in use made a difference in their monthly energy bills.”
These devices, even in standby mode, consume similar amounts of power as game consoles.
Older appliances
As electrical appliances age, their efficiency decreases and they start using more power, often due to several malfunctioning parts.
One of the prime culprits for energy consumption is an old fridge. While it’s advised not to turn off such an appliance, upgrading to a newer, more efficient model could be a wise move.
Microwave ovens
Even when not actively being used, microwave ovens draw power simply to keep the clock display running.
However, you can save some energy by unplugging the microwave or using a power strip to switch it off, which could “lower your electricity bill” according to the expert.
Desktop computer
Desktop computers are notorious for consuming more energy than laptops, so remember to always turn them off completely.
Eric advised: “Don’t even get me started on those. Just shut them down when you’re done using them and watch your bills melt away.”
