YOU could be losing £2,037 every year by making these mistakes in your home.
Rising inflation and increasing energy bills are hitting households hard, but there’s things you can do to cut down on your costs.
Inflation rose to 3.8% in July, meaning prices are going up higher than they were before.
Meanwhile the energy price cap will be increased from next month, meaning the average household will be paying £1,755 a year for their energy bills.
We’ve picked out seven “cash drains” around your home that could be costing you even more money – and how you can fix them…
‘Vampire’ energy appliances – £360
Experts say some energy-sucking appliances in your home could be draining your cash while you sleep.
One example is if you have an older model fridge freezer, which can use substantially more energy than newer ones.
If you have an older model, it could cost you an extra £300 a year.
Leaving your game consoles on standby could also be pushing up your energy bills.
Data from Confused.com suggests games consoles left on standby cost UK households 60 times more than TVs on standby.
Disconnecting your device when not in use or using a smart plug could save you between £40 to £60 a year.
You should also think about disconnecting your chargers when nothing is connected to them.
Although they only use small amounts of energy, this can rack up if you have multiple chargers plugged in around the house constantly.
Leaky taps – £60
You might think a dripping tap is just an annoyance – but it could be costing you money too.
A leaky tap wastes at least 5,500 litres of water a year, or enough to fill a paddling pool every week for the whole summer, according to Water UK.
If you’re on a water meter this could cost you £20 to £60 more a year, Rheams Plumbing and Heating says.
You likely need to replace either the O-ring or washer — parts which should cost no more than a couple of pounds.
There is a step-by-step guide to fixing taps at wickes.co.uk/how-to-guides.
Draughts – £50
Not draught proofing your home properly can cost you extra in energy bills.
You’re wasting money heating the outdoors as well as making your home chillier – meaning you might be turning the thermostat up.
Effective draught proofing can reduce heating bills by roughly £40 to £50 per year in Great Britain, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
Plus you might be able to make extra savings by turning down your thermostat if your home feels warmer as a result.
It costs about £250 for a professional installation for a whole house, but you could also use these cheaper tricks.
Poorly insulated roofs and walls – £840
Your roof is a hotspot for heat loss.
A quick glance down your street after snowfall will give you a good idea of how much energy you’re losing from your home.
If snow remains on your roof after a flurry has past your insulation is doing its job – if not it’s time to consider some home improvements.
If your loft is easy to access and you don’t have damp problems, you may even be able to complete the work yourself.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, loft insulation will pay for itself many times over in its 40-year lifetime.
It could save £340 annually for detached homeowners, £200 a year in semi-detached properties and £180 a year for those living in mid-terrace homes.
It’s also worth checking your wall insulation.
Detached homes can lose 35% of heat and energy through walls, making them the biggest potential leak in your home.
In general, homes built in the 1990s or later should have wall insulation, but if your home predates this it may not.
If a property was built after the 1920s you probably have cavity walls, and can employ a company to inject insulation for a cost of around £4,000.
If you have an older property with solid walls, it can be trickier and more expensive to add insulation.
The Energy Saving Trust has advised that costs can be spread by having insulation installed as you come to decorate a room.
Insulating solid walls could provide energy savings of up to £500 a year, while cavity wall insulation could save you £370 a year.
Washing machine mistakes – £500
You may not realise it, but making these mistakes when running your washing machine could be costing you hundreds.
Matthew Sheeran from Money Wellness says you could be throwing away up to £500 a year by using the appliances incorrectly.
Here are some common mistakes…
- Selecting too high a temperature – washing your clothes at 30C is just as effective as 40C or 60C in most cases
- Overloading the machine – you might think putting more items in one load will help you cut costs, but if your machine’s drum can’t rotate properly your clothes won’t get cleaned effectively. This can put extra strain on your appliance, leading to more frequent repairs or a shorter lifespan.
- Using the wrong detergent – this can lead to residue buildup in your machine, making the appliance less efficient. You may end up having to run an extra cycle to clear it out.
Paying too much for broadband – £120
Broadband is one of the main household bills most of us need to pay for.
But you could find yourself paying too much if you auto-renew every year without searching for a better deal.
You’re unlikely to make any savings if you’re in the middle of your contract as you’ll probably have to pay an exit fee.
However if you’re at the end of your contract, you should use price comparison sites to look for the best deal for your home.
You can also phone up your current provider as you’re coming to the end of your contract to try to haggle a better deal.
They may be more likely to slash your bills if you’re a loyal customer.
One MoneySavingExpert reader told the website they manage to slash their annual bill with Plusnet by £120 by calling up to haggle on price.
Spending too much on your showers – £107
You could save money by making these tweaks to your shower.
Firstly, the type of shower you have can impact how much energy it uses.
Electric showers are particularly efficient as they only heat the water you use.
Power showers have a far stronger flow so use more water and will push up your bills.
But the least efficient showers are mixer ones, as they use around double the amount of water compared with a power shower.
The power output of your shower is also important to consider.
If you have a 10-minute shower every day for a year, these would be your rough annual costs depending on your shower’s power output:
- 10.8kW shower – more than £158.
- 9.5kW shower – between £123 and £140 annually, depending on the model
- 8.5kW shower – Around £122 each year.
That means you could save £36 by switching to a lower power output.
Another option is to switch to your shower’s eco mode.
Consumer site Which? says you could save £70.75 a year by doing this.