The five home appliances adding the most to bills – and how to save £290 NOW

A NUMBER of everyday household appliances could be adding hundreds of pounds to your bills.

Washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers are some of the most energy-guzzling devices, according to consumer group Which?

But fear not, as you can cut costs by making some relatively easy changes - and save yourself around £140 in the process.

It comes as energy bills have spiked for millions across the UK with the average household spending £2,500 a year.

Emily Seymour, energy editor at Which?, said: "Our research shows running costs for common household appliances - like washing machines, tumble dryers, fridge-freezers and dishwashers - have risen by nearly 60% during the cost of living crisis. 

"The good news is that there are things you can do to cut back on energy costs linked to these appliances."

Here are five of the most expensive household appliances to run and how you can cut costs.

Of course, the amounts each device will cost you, and the amounts you can save, vary depending on the model you have and your usage.

Washing machine - £77

They are a household staple, but the average annual cost of running a washing machine with a 9kg capacity costs £77.47 as of April this year, Which? found.

That's compared to £49 a year in October 2021.

But you can save money on the energy-guzzling device by lowering the temperature you wash at.

Washing at 30°C will generally be fine for most clothes, unless they are super dirty, and cuts energy use by 38% compared to 40°C.

That works out as a roughly £29 saving every year based on the average annual cost of running the appliance being £77.47.

You can cut costs further still by dropping the temperature down to 20°C, which uses 62% less energy - a £48 yearly saving.

You can save extra money by washing certain items less often than others.

Garments like jeans, jumpers and towels can be washed after every three uses, not one, for example.

Tumble dryer - £217

The amount you spend on a tumble dryer every year varies depending on whether you buy a heat pump or condenser model.

Which? found condenser tumble dryers cost around £217 per year in electricity costs while heat pump ones will set you back £69.49.

But you can save money by swapping the appliance for a heated airer instead.

The devices do have different power settings, so will cost different amounts depending on which one you go for.

But Which? found drying three 2.15kg cotton loads a week will cost around £62 a year with the average heated airer.

That's around £8 cheaper compared to a heat pump tumble dryer and £155 less than a condenser tumble dryer.

If you want to make even bigger savings, and you have the space, you can always hang your clothes out on the line, which of course costs nothing at all.

Or, you can turn down the cycle heat of the dryer, or simply give it a good clean to ensure it's running efficiently.

Dishwasher - £94

Plenty of households rely on dishwashers as a more convenient way of getting the dishes clean.

But the appliance can cost you £94.86 a year to run.

Like with washing machines, you can cut costs by opting for cheaper settings.

Using a dishwasher's energy-saving or eco program will take longer, but uses 30% less energy - that's a roughly £28 saving over 12 months.

You can save more still by opting for a dishwasher with a better energy rating.

A rating system from A to G will show you how efficient an appliance is with A the best and G being the worst.

Having an inefficient dishwasher could be adding £500 to your energy bills over its lifetime, Which? has previously said.

Oven - £77

Using your built-in oven costs £77.02 per year to run, Which? said, up from £48.71 in October 2021.

You can save money by cooking in bulk, thereby using the appliance less.

Or, you can opt for a different device entirely, such as an air fryer.

They have surged in popularity since the price of energy rose as they can be a cheaper option.

For example, a 2000w air fryer will cost roughly 68p to run per hour of use whereas a 2,500w oven will cost 85p.

If you used it for one hour a day, 365 days a year, the air fryer would cost you £248.20 on your electricity - based on a floor unit price of 34p per kilowatt.

If you used the oven for the same amount of time over 365 days, it would cost you £310.25 - that's £62 more compared to the air fryer.

But, bear in mind, air fryers aren't always the cheapest option, as highlighted by money-saving expert Martin Lewis.

It's best to use an air fryer if you're wanting to crisp up your food all the while keeping it healthier - the appliances use significantly less oil than ovens.

But unless you've got a large basket size, it can be more convenient to cook larger meals, like Sunday roasts, in your oven.

Fridge-freezer - £139

Yet another kitchen essential, the average fridge-freezer currently costs £139.90 a year to run.

You should watch out for freestanding American models too, which will churn through your energy a lot more and can cost over £200 a year to operate.

But you can save costs by cleaning behind the unit to ensure the coils don't clog up and it can work as efficiently as possible.

Meanwhile, make sure to not leave the doors open for too long, especially on hot days.

This will cause the temperature to rise, meaning your appliance will have to work harder to cool down.

Plus, keeping your fridge-freezer well-stocked means it will use less energy. Even filling the unit with water bottles will act to cool it down.

But make sure you don't overfill it, and don't leave products too near the ventilating outlets as keeping space at the top and sides of your fridge helps the cool air move around easier.

Or, you could set your fridge-freezer to the exact correct temperature - between 2°C and 6°C for a fridge and -18°C for a freezer.