I’m an energy expert – the worst ‘gas guzzling’ appliances that you need to turn off NOW
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MILLIONS of households across the UK will be looking at ways to cut back on their energy usage with bills set to rise in October.
The average energy bill was set to go up to £3,549 after the regulator Ofgem announced a new price cap.
But Prime Minister Liz Truss has since announced a freeze, meaning that bills will rise by less.
The Energy Bill Guarantee will limit average bills to £2,500 for two years, though the exact amount you pay can still be higher or lower depending on usage.
It still means people will be paying more for their energy come next month compared to the £1,971 millions pay on price capped tariffs and many will be worried.
But there are some simple ways you can cut back on energy use so your costs don't go sky high - like figuring out the appliances that churn through the most energy.
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The Sun spoke to Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at , who revealed eight of the most expensive household appliances to run, and where you can cut back on costs.
Of course the exact amount you spend - and how much you can save - will depend on a number of things, like the size of your home and how often you use appliances.
But the calculations for average use will give you an idea of where you might be able to cut back and save cash.
Shower
According to Uswitch, showers cost on average £161 a year to run based on the current price cap.
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From October 1, that will go up to £205 a year, an increase of £44.
While it's hard to completely switch off your shower, limiting the amount you use it will cut down your costs.
Ben said: "Showers are used every day so it is no surprise that they are among the most energy-guzzling appliances in our homes.
"Cutting down time spent under the shower can help people save money on energy, and also on water for anyone with a water meter."
If you want to save on your shower, you can employ these three tips.
Hob
A kitchen hob costs an average of £80 a year to run under the current price cap.
From October 1, that will more than double to a whopping £163.
Ben said: ";People can save energy while cooking by only heating as much water as is needed for the food you are cooking, and putting a lid on saucepans."
You can also opt to use an air fryer or microwave to cook your food, if that's possible, as in a lot of cases, that will use less energy.
Or you could use a slow cooker.
It will obviously depend on the meal though, and this won't always be the cheapest option.
Kettle
A kettle costs an average of £77 a year to run one under the current price cap.
From October 1, that will go up to £98.
Ben said: "Thanks to the nation’s love of a good cup of tea, it’s hardly surprising that the kettle is the third-biggest household energy guzzler.
"People can save energy on each cup of tea or coffee they brew by only filling up the kettle with as much water as they strictly need."
Another alternative is using a microwave to heat up your water.
Tumble dryer
A tumble dryer costs an average of £72 a year to run under the current price cap.
From October 1, that will go up to £92, a £20 increase.
Ben said: "Tumble dryers are one of the most energy-guzzling appliances in our homes.
"They can be used more efficiently if you only run them when they are full, or by making use of your appliance’s eco mode, if it has one.
He added: "Switching from a tumble dryer to alternatives like a heated airer or drying clothes on radiators can save a lot of money as well."
If you're looking for a heated air dryer, Dunelm is selling one for just £65.
Or you could check out our guide to how you've been using your tumble dryer all wrong.
Fridge/freezer
A fridge/freezer is another energy guzzler, costing the average household £70 per year to run under the current price cap.
That goes up to £88 from October 1.
Ben said: "Fridge-freezers are one of the few household appliances left running 24 hours a day, so it’s hard to save money here.
"However, modern fridges and freezers are much more efficient than older versions."
He added one way to cut back on costs was to stop ice from building up inside as this makes your unit work harder.
And you could always vacuum your fridge to save on bills.
Plug-in electric heater
Plug-in electric heaters are only used by 8% of households, but they cost on average £50 to run under the current price cap.
That will go up to £64 from next month.
Ben said: "Heating is the biggest expense for households over winter, and plug-in heaters can use a lot of energy.
"Make sure you turn them off once the room gets to a comfortable temperature, so they are not using energy when they are no longer needed."
If you want to know how much it costs to run an oil-filled radiator, you can check out our explainer.
Dishwasher/washing machine
A dishwasher costs on average £38 to run per year, under the current price cap.
That will climb to £49 from October 1.
And your washing machine costs £33 to run under the current price cap, which will go up to £42 from next month.
Ben said: "Similarly to the tumble dryer, it is possible to save money on dishwashers and washing machines by only using them when they are full and making use of any eco mode settings.
"You can also save a third off your washing machine costs by running it at 30°C rather than 40°C."
If you want more tips on how to reduce costs from your dishwasher, you can read our guide.
And if you want your washing machine to guzzle through less energy, you can see how here.
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We previously revealed the eight cheapest appliances to run in the home.
And the nightmare heatwave appliances you should switch off to save on energy bills.