UK households are being warned to avoid washing their clothes at certain times of the day to avoid paying higher energy bills.
Washing machines are one of the most used home appliances and can cost between £25 to £35 per year to run, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
While it might not sound like much, these costs soon add up and with household energy bills forecast to increase again in April, when Ofgem’s new price cap takes effect, it’s wise to save the pennies where you can.
Households are urged to avoid running their washing machine during peak hours from 4pm to 9pm, when electricity costs are highest due to high energy demand.
During these hours, energy companies typically charge more per unit of electricity so you’re better waiting to do your laundry at quieter times of the day, either late at night or early in the morning.
Cleaning firm Vileda warns: “Energy companies often charge more per unit of electricity during ‘peak hours’. These are usually in the late afternoon and early evening when energy demand is highest.
“To save money, aim to run your washing machine and dryer outside these hours. Ideally, the best time to do laundry to save energy is either early in the morning or late at night.”
By using appliances outside of peak periods you can take advantage of cheaper energy rates if you’re on an ‘agile tariff’. These tariffs automatically go up and down based on energy usage patterns, so if you’re able to switch your usage to off-peak hours, you can make big savings as energy prices are lower at these times of day.
Such tariffs are offered by energy companies to encourage people to cut their usage during peak times, thereby lowering demand on the grid and helping it to run more smoothly.
Many UK energy suppliers also offer Time-of-Use (TOU) tariffs to customers which means that energy prices drop late at night, making it an ideal time to run power-hungry appliances. Before 7am also falls within off-peak hours so putting an early wash on is another good way to cut energy costs.
But off-peak hours can vary across suppliers so it’s worth checking on your energy provider’s website when these hours are and remember if you’re not on an agile tariff then these dynamic time price changes won’t affect you. You can check with your supplier to make sure you know what tariff you’re on and how it works.
Kitchen and home appliance firm Candy says the best time to run your washing machine to save money is between 11pm and 7am, as electricity demand has significantly decreased at this time.
Energy experts also recommend reducing your washing machine use to cut costs, with one cycle less per week amounting to an £8 per year saving.