Did you know that most UK households are wasting money without even realising it? Simple mistakes with everyday appliances could be adding hundreds of pounds to your annual energy bill. In fact, a Uswitch study found that a huge 97% of households are guilty of these habits.
The good news? A few easy tweaks could put that money back in your pocket.
Wasted energy makes up 30% of the average energy bill - do something about it! Get more from your smart meter with Loop.
The kitchen is a hive of energy use with gadgets and appliances whirring in the background. But misuse could be blowing up your bill.
The kettle may seem small and harmless, but it’s one of the most commonly misused appliances - with 68% of people overfilling their kettle and 64% reboiling it after forgetting about it. Together, these habits can add an extra £36 a year to your energy bill!
Are you one of the 67% who use the fastest dishwasher setting? Or the 63% who skip eco mode on the washing machine?
That’s another £18 a year wasted. Many people assume eco mode uses more energy because the cycles take longer, but that’s a myth. Heating water is what costs the most. So, even if the programme takes more time, eco mode always uses less energy overall.
Stuffing too much into your dishwasher, washing machine, or tumble dryer? You’re not helping. Overfilling actually reduces cleaning power and often means items need washing again. This bad habit adds up to £64 a year in wasted energy.
An air fryer works like a small convection oven but heats up faster and uses less energy. Using the oven instead could be costing you £32 extra a year. If you own an air fryer, stick to the right timings and save money every mealtime.
And if you don't have an air fryer, make sure to follow the temperature set on the cooking instructions. Using the same temperature for everything you cook in the oven could add £3 to your energy bill. Admittedly, that's not much of a saving on its own, but together with other actions, it could quickly add up!
Even small slip-ups make a difference. Leaving the fridge door open, preheating the oven too long, or not following cooking instructions can sneakily add another £15 a year.
Choose slow cookers, air fryers, or microwaves instead of the oven when possible.
Always use eco mode - it saves both energy and water.
Only boil the water you need. Kettles with low minimum fill lines are great for this.
Don’t overload appliances. Leave space so water and air can circulate properly.
The bathroom is another energy hot spot, especially when it comes to shower time.
Half of people admit to showers longer than 10 minutes, while a third take 20 minutes or more. That indulgence comes at a cost:
10–20 minute showers = up to £70 extra a year
20+ minute showers = a whopping £120 extra a year
Leaving the tap running while brushing your teeth is another common energy-waster. Heating water is expensive and it's responsible for 18% of a typical gas heating bill. And when it comes to handwashing, hot water isn’t necessary at all. It’s the soap and scrubbing that kill bacteria, not the temperature.
Keep showers to 4 minutes - saving up to £45 a year and 17,000 litres of water.
If you have an electric shower, use eco mode.
Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth.
Wash hands in cold water - just as effective, far cheaper.
Uswitch found that these simple slip-ups are some of the worst offenders, collectively adding up to hundreds of pounds a year in wasted energy.
| Appliance actions | % of households who are guilty of doing this | Estimated additional annual costs |
| Taking showers lasting more than 20 minutes | 34% | £120 |
| Taking showers lasting 10-20 minutes | 54% | £70 |
| Overfilling the tumble dryer | 26% | £36 |
| Cooking food in the air fryer using timings meant for a traditional oven | 39% | £32 |
| Boiling the kettle, forget about it, then re-boiling it | 64% | £22 |
| Using the quickest washing machine or dishwasher cycle, even if it uses more energy | 67% | £19 |
| Running the washing machine not on eco mode | 62% | £19 |
| Overfilling the washing machine | 45% | £19 |
| Running the dishwasher not on eco mode | 38% | £18 |
| Boiling more water in the kettle than I need | 68% | £14 |
| Leaving the oven preheating for 30 minutes or more | 37% | £10 |
| Overfilling the air fryer | 24% | £9 |
| Overfilling the dishwasher | 28% | £9 |
| Leaving the fridge or freezer door open for long periods | 29% | £6 |
* Source: Uswitch.com. Energy prices assume a household is on a price-capped Standard Variable Tariff.
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