Energy experts warn that a common kettle habit could be costing households up to £70 a year
Households urged to stop making the kettle mistake that adds £70 to energy bills(Image: Catherine Falls Commercial via Getty Images)
Despite Ofgem reducing the energy price cap from April, households will still face steep bills. With many searching for methods to trim costs without compromising comfort, an energy specialist has said some of the most substantial savings stem from far smaller, daily habits.
According to Justin Nielsen, energy specialist at Wolf River Electric, many households could save upwards of £170 annually on bills by altering two routines that many don’t consider. They involve using the kettle and the tumble dryer.
The specialist said: “People often assume savings have to be drastic to matter. But when you break down how much energy everyday appliances use, some very normal habits turn out to be surprisingly expensive over a year.”
Making tea is a daily occurrence in many households, but some boil the kettle multiple times daily without paying attention to how much water goes in, reports the Express.
Justin said: “A typical UK kettle is rated at about 3kW. Every time you boil it, you are using a noticeable amount of electricity very quickly.”
At current electricity prices, each full boil costs around 3-4p. On its own, that doesn’t seem expensive, but most people are wasting energy by boiling more water than they need.
The specialist added: “Overfilling the kettle by even a mug or two is incredibly common. If you’re wasting around 250ml of water per boil and you boil the kettle five times a day, that wasted energy alone can add up to roughly £35 to £40 a year.”
Reboiling water that has already been heated and left to cool can lead to annual costs of £60 to £70 from kettle use alone.
The solution is straightforward: households are encouraged to boil only what they require. Most kettles feature measurement markings for precisely this reason.
Justin also highlighted that descaling your kettle regularly helps maintain its efficiency.
Another habit that could lead to wasted money is overreliance on the tumble dryer, particularly during winter. Justin noted that tumble dryers rank among the most energy-hungry appliances in any home.
A single cycle can cost between 56p and £1.12 at current prices. He added: “If a household runs five dryer loads a week, that can amount to anywhere from £145 to nearly £300 a year.
“A lot of people run the dryer for half-loads, or for items that could easily air-dry. Cutting out just two unnecessary dryer cycles per week could save around £100 a year on its own.”
On occasion, abandoning the tumble dryer entirely is the wisest choice, with households advised to select a higher spin setting on the washing machine to help garments dry more quickly.
