With the weather warming up and the heating off, most households expect their energy bills to go down. However, lurking in the background are “vampire appliances” — everyday devices that keep “sucking up power” even when they’re switched off.
Left unchecked, these devices could “quietly add” as much as £100 to your energy bill each year, according to Stephen Day, a home energy expert and heating engineer at iHeat. The expert said: “Most people have no idea that TVs, gaming consoles and even kitchen appliances keep drawing power when they’re not in use. That little red standby light on your TV or the digital clock on a microwave may seem harmless, right? But over a year, it adds up fast.”
If left on standby, a single TV, depending on the model, could waste around £5 to £10 a year in energy.
Gaming consoles aren’t much better either, according to the pro who said they can add up to £8 annually just sitting idle.
The expert also warned against chargers such as phones, laptops and tablet chargers which keep draining power even when they’re not charging anything.
Kitchen appliances are also a “hidden drain” with microwaves, coffee machines, and even kettles that quietly use energy constantly.
The expert said: “It’s not just about one device. It’s the fact that you’ve got multiple appliances doing this, all day, every day. That’s where the real cost comes in.”
The home energy expert said a “few small changes” could in fact save households “serious money”.
Stephen said: “Start with the basics. Switch off appliances at the socket when you’re not using them, and unplug chargers once your devices are fully charged.
“Smart plugs or timers can make life easier by cutting off power to devices when you don’t need them.
“Most TVs and gaming consoles now have eco-modes. It takes two minutes to set them up, and you could save a decent chunk over the year.”
Upgrading to more energy-efficient appliances is another win, too. This includes energy-saving light bulbs, low-power TVs, and modern smart devices designed with efficiency in mind.
The expert added: “While replacing an old TV or fridge might seem pricey, over time, the savings on your energy bill will more than make up for it.
“Energy prices aren’t going down anytime soon, but small changes, like turning off a few appliances at the socket or using a smart plug, really do add up over the year. It’s easy money.”