These Appliances Are Electricity Guzzlers in Your Home
If you are looking to save some money on your monthly electricity bill, there are a number of appliances that are likely to be doing the most damage. Let’s take a closer look at 35 appliances that waste the most electricity in your home.
Tumble Dryer
At the end of the day, how necessary is a tumble dryer? Yes, it makes drying your clothes more convenient, but it also uses a heating element, which draws a whole lot of energy from the grid. Instead, simply hang your clothes up to dry, and you will notice a significant drop in your electricity usage.
Washing Machine
The washing machine is another device that uses a whole lot of electricity. While it is a necessary item in many households, just be sure that you are making the most out of every wash. Avoid doing small loads and consider hand-washing as an option.
Dishwasher
If you have a dishwasher in your home, you should know that it likely costs you a small fortune in electricity every month. It uses a heating element, which consumes a significant amount of energy. To ensure that you don’t waste unnecessary electricity, only turn it on when full and hand-wash dishes if possible.
Oven
The oven is by far one of the largest consumers of electricity in any household. After all, it takes a lot of energy to reach such high temperatures. Preheating for too long, frequently opening the door, or cooking small meals in a large oven all consume far more power than necessary.
Electric Stove
Nowadays, everybody seems to be switching to gas stove tops, and for good reason. Electric stoves are pricey, as they use a lot of electricity. Gas options, on the other hand, hardly use any electricity. You will have to pay for gas refills every few months or so, though.
Water Heater
In any home, the water heater is one of the top electricity consumers, as so much energy is required to heat large amounts of water. If you want to save some money, be sure to adjust the heat of your water heater accordingly.
Kettle
The kettle is basically a mini water heater, which means that it also uses a large amount of electricity, just on a smaller scale. To cut back on electricity usage, you could boil your water on a gas stove top instead.
Air Conditioner
If you live in a hot area and leave your air conditioner running through the day and night, you probably pay a fortune on your electricity bill every month. This appliance uses a lot of electricity, as it continuously pumps out cooler air.
Space Heater
Even though a space heater can be a lifesaver during the colder months, it's also an electricity guzzler. In fact, if used for just 4 hours a day, you can expect to pay an extra $60 per month on your electricity bill.
Refrigerator
It shouldn't be too much of a surprise to see the refrigerator on our list. After all, they run 24/7. The average household spends about $400 a year on its electricity bill just to keep the refrigerator running!
Freezer
Similar to a fridge, the freezer also uses a lot of electricity to stay cool. In fact, it has to keep the temperature below freezing, resulting in even more energy usage. Moreover, the freezer runs all day, every day, racking up a very high electricity bill.
Microwave
Even though the microwave doesn’t use quite as much electricity as an oven, it is usually used more frequently, which results in a pretty hefty electricity bill. The average household spends about $10 a month on electricity used by the microwave.
Toaster Oven
The toaster is a small appliance, which means that it doesn’t use as much electricity as an oven or water heater, for example. However, it still has a heating element, which sucks up a lot of energy. To put it into perspective, a 4-slice toaster can cost around $0.3 for just one use.
Hair Dryer
The hair dryer is yet another appliance that uses a significant amount of electricity. To cut back on your monthly electricity bill, be sure to only use the hair dryer when absolutely necessary. It’s also worth noting that the heat from the dryer can actually damage your hair.
Iron
An iron heats up fast and uses a lot of power. Leaving it on while you step away? That wastes electricity. Your iron uses way more energy than you realize, and really drives up your electricity bill. Try to do a big bundle of ironing rather than small ironing jobs.
Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuums suck up much more than dust - they suck power too. The bigger the motor, the higher the electricity use. The longer you clean, the more it drains your power. The motor works hard, especially on carpets. Clean house? Yes! But it’s costly too.
Dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers hum quietly in the corner of the room, but they’re sneaky energy hogs. They run for hours pulling water out of the air. The fan and compressor run nonstop, which burns power quickly. It’s great for damp houses, but not so great for your electric bill.
Heated Towel Rail
A heated towel rail feels fancy, right? But it’s basically a small radiator running all day. It doesn’t stop using power just because your towel is dry. If you leave it on, it slowly uses electricity in the background. Those cozy towels come with a hidden cost.
Electric Blanket
Is there anything better than an electric blanket keeping you warm on a cold night? Sadly, your favorite heating device really eats electricity while you sleep. It has to keep a steady flow of heat through the wires, which means constant electricity.
Underfloor Heating
Underfloor heating is a luxury. But it’s also one of the biggest electricity wasters on our list. It has to heat a huge surface area, and that takes some serious energy. Your feet might be cozy, but your bill is anything but.
Television
Televisions look harmless, but those big screens use more electricity than you think. They stay on for hours. Even when you turn them off, they still draw power in standby mode. The bigger the screen, the more electricity it uses.
Desktop Computer
Desktop computers are electricity guzzlers compared to laptops. They need power for the monitor, tower, and any other gadgets you’re using. The fans and parts inside keep pulling power, especially if you leave it on all day.
Printer
Printers are tricky. They don’t just use power when printing. Many sit in standby mode, just waiting for a printing job. And that still burns electricity. If you rarely print but keep it plugged in, it’s like paying for nothing.
Modem/Router
Your poor modem or router never takes a break. It runs 24/7 to keep you online. Even though it doesn’t use a lot of electricity at once, the constant use adds up. That little box buzzing along in the corner is adding to your electricity bill.
Device Chargers
Chargers waste electricity in two ways. First, they use electricity while charging your phone or gadget. Second, they keep pulling power if you leave them plugged in - even when not charging. It’s small, but it adds up quickly.
Coffee Maker
Coffee makers heat up water much faster than a kettle would, and that burns a lot of electricity. If you keep the warming plate on to keep your coffee hot, it just keeps using power. Morning coffee is great, but not when you see your electricity bill.
Alarm Clock
Alarm clocks don’t seem like a problem. But they use power all day, every day. They’re always plugged in, even when you’re not looking at them. Over time, that little drain adds up. Yes, it’s not huge, but it’s constant.
Electric Toothbrush
That small trickle of power used to charge your electric toothbrush might not make a dent in your electricity bill, but it certainly adds to it. The brushing itself doesn’t waste much, but the endless charging wastes electricity.
Smartphone Hub
A smartphone hub looks really cool, and probably makes your life easier. But it’s another electricity vampire. It’s always on, ready to charge, even when nothing is connected. The more slots it has, the more power it uses - even on standby mode.
Laptop
Laptops don’t waste nearly as much electricity as desktops do, but they still add up if they’re always plugged in. Charging the battery, powering the screen, and running programs all use electricity. Leave it on overnight, and you’re wasting even more electricity.
Smart Speakers
Your Alexa might be one of the best gadgets you’ve ever bought, but it’s always on and always using power. You don’t even need to say anything to it. They may not use a ton on their own, but if you have a few around the house, it really adds up.
Cable/Satellite Box
Cable and satellite boxes are sneaky little electricity thieves. Even when the TV is off, they keep running updates and staying connected. That standby power is constant. In fact, they use nearly as much power off as they do on.
Gaming Consoles
Gaming consoles are power-hungry when they play. They run hot, need strong graphics, and keep fans spinning. But the sneakiest part is standby mode. They keep drawing power even when not in use. A console left plugged in is wasting electricity all the time.
Electric Shower
An electric shower feels great, but it uses massive power to heat water instantly. The heating element inside runs the whole time you shower. Quick showers help, but even then, it burns through electricity faster than anything else in the house.
Air Fryer
Ah, the good old air fryer. You might think that you’re saving electricity by making your meals in the air fryer. Spoiler alert: you’re not! That quick burst of high power costs you a lot of electricity. It’s not as cheap as it feels.
