Full list of ‘sunshine zapping’ appliances that could be adding up £395 to your energy bills
WARMER weather does not always mean you will be spending less on your energy bills.
Households across Britain may be hoping for a drop in their monthly energy bill as warmer weather finally hits the UK.
But be vigilant of these pesky summer appliances that can push up your energy bill without you even realising.
To save dosh, households should be aware of these devices which aim to keep you cool but could be adding a whopping £395 to your bill.
These energy guzzling “sunshine zapping” appliances eat away at your electricity when they are left on for too long.
It should be said that how much you spend will depend on how long you leave your device on for and what model you have.
Consumer expert Martyn James, described these household items as “sunshine zapping appliances”.
“My tip to cut down on using these sunshine zapping appliances over the summer is to precook most of your food in the oven beforehand and then just finish it off on the BBQ.
“There is also loads of guidance online to work out how much energy you’re using if you have a smart metre,” he told The Sun.
Another tip the consumer expert gave is using an old fashioned kitchen timer.
He recommends turning the timer on when you have appliances such as fans in use so you can keep an eye on how long they have been running.
Electric fan – £12.48
Leaving an electric fan on overnight to keep you cool as you sleep may seem like a practical thing to do but it racks up a hefty charge.
The average 50W fan, which runs for eight hours overnight, would cost you 9p a day, according to Nicholas Auckland, energy expert at Trade Radiators.
If it was on for eight hours every night over June, July and August, this would be £12.48.
But the energy pro said the price will vary from fan to fan.
“The usual wattage of a fan ranges anywhere from 20W-75W.”
“The 75W fans will likely be stronger and more effective, however they do use up more energy and therefore cost more to run,” he explained.
So if you keep a 75W fan on for eight hours over the summer this would cost £18.60.
Outdoor lights – £18.60
Outdoor lights are an easy way to add the wow factor to your garden party, however if you are not careful they can bite into your finances.
If you had four 60W outdoor lights on for an hour a day this would cost around 5p, Nicholas said.
For 4 hours with all 4 lights on, this would increase to roughly 20p, and over the course of 7 days it would add up to £1.40.
Over a 31 day month,this would be roughly £6.20 and for the whole of the summer, this would be £18.60.
If you wish to fork out for this accessory it is entirely up to you, as they can be a fun way to brighten up your garden.
Electric shower – around £23.20
We tend to shower more in summer due to the hot weather and activities making us sweatier.
“Generally, the weakest shower in terms of wattage is around 6.5kW, while the highest is 10.8kW,” Nicholas explained.
One person using the 6.5kW shower for a total of one hour per week would cost £1.45 per week.
If there are 4 people in the household, this would cost £5.80 per week.
One person using a higher 10.8KW power shower for a total of one hour per week would cost roughly £2.42 per week.
If there are 4 people in the household, this would increase to £9.68 per week.
Over the three months of the summer, use of the less powerful shower would set you back £23.20
Meanwhile, the high power 10.8KW shower would add £38.72 to your bill.
Portable air conditioner – up to £250.17
A portable air conditioner is a summer stable in many homes, as you can easily move it around the house and keep yourself cool on the go.
However, the device is sneaky and can drive up your electricity bill without you even realising.
Nicholas said on average, the product runs at roughly 1004W.
With this in mind, if a 1004W air conditioner ran for eight hours a day it would cost £1.79 per day to run.
Be aware, this would amount to £12.53 per week, or £55.49 per 31 day month.
For the 3 months of summer, this would cost a whopping £166.47.
If the weather is particularly hot and you want to keep the product on for 12 hours a day, the charge would increase to £2.69 per day.
If you carried this out for the whole of the summer this would rise to a staggering £250.17.
Dehumidifier – up to £82.77
Dehumidifiers can be great at improving air quality and preventing mould in humid summer conditions, but you may want to think twice before you plug in your device.
Nicholas said dehumidifiers usually run from around 20W to 500W.
If you have a low energy usage 20W dehumidifier, and it’s on for 8 hours a day, it would cost 3.50p to run for a day.
For a 7 day week, this equals to roughly 25p a week, or £1.11 per month.
However, If you have a high energy usage 500W dehumidifier, and it’s on for 8 hours a day, it would cost roughly 89p per day.
For a 7 day week, it would cost approximately £6.23 per week, and £27.59 per month.
Doing the maths, this would equate to a hefty £82.77 for the total of June, July and August.
Electric barbecue – £8.04
These are summer staple in many households and a great way to feed guests popping around for a party.
However, if you are not careful barbecues can become an pricey tool.
Nicholas said if you have a 2000W electric barbecue on for 2 hours, it would cost 89.44p to run, so roughly cost you 89p.
If it’s used 3 times a month for 2 hours each time, it would cost £2.68 per month.
Over the three months of the summer this would cost a household £8.04.
Otherways to keep cool without racking up a bill
Uswitch energy comparison shared with The Sun the best tips to stay cool without adding to your energy bill
Create a cooling breeze: Place a bowl of ice cubes in front of an electric fan to create a refreshing breeze as it blows the ice-cold air around the room.
Close the curtains: Keep your curtains shut during the day. It may be tempting to let the light in, but the sunshine will heat the room, turning your home into a greenhouse.
Unplug the tech: Plugged-in gadgets produce heat, including those that are on standby. Unplug them when you are not using them to keep the room cool.
Take advantage of the daylight: Switch the lights off during the day. Lightbulbs release heat causing a room to get warmer, so turning them off or switching to LED bulbs that give off less heat can help reduce the overall temperature. With the sun setting late in the evening during summer you can keep the lights off for longer and therefore keep the room cooler.
Use a hot water bottle: You don’t have to use a hot water bottle just to keep warm. Instead, you can fill it with cold water to keep you cool during the night.
What is going on with your energy bill?
Energy bills have fallen significantly since last summer and are due to fall again in July.
The average price of an energy bill is due to fall by 7% next month, when the latest changes to the energy price cap come into effect.
Energy consultants at Cornwall Insight previously told The Sun they expect the typical household’s energy bill to fall from £1,690 a year to £1,574 a year on July 1.
This would be £500 less than the cap in July last year, when it was £2,074 and just £34 higher than April 2024’s cap.
It is important to remember the price cap changes every three months, so your bills could change again in October.
According to MoneySavingExpert the figure is set to rise by a whopping 12% in October to £1,762 a year.
The figure is predicted to stay the same even in the next price cap which takes place in January 2025.
What energy bill help is available?
THERE'S a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have grant schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria varies depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £1,500.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill, and some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you’re struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.