These devices are draining your wallet, according to the experts
These devices can be draining(Image: Getty)
The weather remains bitterly cold and if you’re concerned about your electricity bill there’s one crucial step you must take. The energy price cap has increased once more by 0.2%, meaning heating and electricity costs will keep rising.
That’s why specialists are calling on households to monitor how they’re using electronics at home, and identify which ones are draining their finances. These gadgets, referred to as ‘vampire devices,’ consume energy even when switched off.
This will empty your wallet, but if you turn them off at the socket or disconnect them when idle, you could slash up to £140 from your bills.
Energy specialists at Electric Radiators Direct, reports the Express, warn that failing to unplug 10 everyday appliances whilst they’re not being used could be setting you back more than £140 annually.
The most expensive devices to leave on standby
- Games console: £36.38
- Gaming PC: £23.52
- Desktop computer: £20.38
- TV: £15.28
- Speaker/Digital radio: £10.67
- Oven: £8.73
- Kettle: £5.58
- Microwave: £5.34
- Air fryer: £4.37
- Slow cooker: £4.37
Keeping these gadgets running costs an average of £12.36 monthly. That might not seem significant, but it accumulates over time.
Energy efficiency specialist Stephen Hankinson from Electric Radiators Direct said: “It sounds so simple but switching your appliances off at the wall really is the best way to ensure you’re not spending your hard-earned income on keeping things in standby mode.
“The cost of a couple of coffees might not concern you however, £145 is a big food shop, two tanks of petrol or even a nice meal out.
There really are much better ways to use this money than giving it to the energy companies.”
However, not all appliances are energy vampires.
Electric hobs cost just 65p a month on standby, and lamps cost around 10p a month, totalling £1.14 a year.