Vampire appliances are devices that draw electricity even when they are turned off or left in standby mode
Vampire gadgets can soon push up your energy bills(Image: karetoria via Getty Images)
The worst vampire appliances that are quietly pushing up your energy bills have been revealed – as millions of households brace for another price hike this winter.
Vampire appliances are devices that draw electricity even when they are turned off or left in standby mode. For example, your TV or microwave are common items that are typically left on standby in most households.
New data from Uswitch shows leaving a TV, games console, microwave and digital TV box on standby, plus leaving a phone and laptop charging for 24 hours a day would add up to £32.14 a year.
How much extra you could be paying depends on how many vampire appliances you have in your home. For example, a TV that is left on standby for eight hours overnight, uses around 1p of energy. This may not sound a lot, but this adds up to around 30p over the course of a month.
Or if you fall asleep with your TV on for eight hours, this uses around 20p of energy. A microwave that is left plugged in for eight hours uses around 0.21p of energy, while a smart speaker uses 0.52p of energy.
A phone that is left charging for eight hours will cost you around 0.10p, while a charging laptop uses 0.63p of energy.
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch, said: “If you’re worried about the cost mounting up, you can buy smart plugs that let you turn off devices via an app without physically unplugging them.
“Older TVs, games consoles and computers may use more power than newer models, so it may be worth turning them off at the wall if they are not used often.
“So don’t have nightmares about vampire appliances sucking your energy while you’re sleeping, as in most cases the amount of electricity lost is relatively small.”
But there are some appliances where it is recommended you keep them on. For example, a broadband router uses around 2p of energy over eight hours – but you are better off leaving this switched on.
Mr Gallizzi added: “Broadband networks regularly monitor the speed and reliability of your internet connection, so shutting off your router frequently can make your provider think there is a faulty line.
“This could lead them to slow down the service into your router in order to try to maintain your connection while they check for technical issues.”
It comes as energy bills are set to rise by another 4% this October – with another increase forecast for January, during the coldest months.
The typical household that pays by direct debit will see their annual energy bill increase from £1,663 to £1,723 this October.
Energy firms including EDF, British Gas and E.ON Next are currently predicting the price cap could jump by more than 20% in January, as the ongoing war in the Middle East continues to put pressure on wholesale fuel prices.
Cornwall Insight, which issues less frequent forecasts, last month said it expects a further 9% jump in January.
Energy use of gadgets in standby mode
The cost is for eight hours of use, representing a gadget that has been left on standby or in use overnight. This based on the current July price cap unit rates.
- Games console (in use) – 41.8p
- Games console (standby) – 0.84p
- TV (in use) – 20.3p
- TV (standby) – 1.01p
- Microwave – 0.21p
- Smart speaker – 0.52p
- Phone (left charging) – 0.10p
- Laptop (left charging) – 0.63p
- Digital TV box (in use) – 4.60p
- Digital TV box (standby) – 3.13p
- Digital TV box (deep standby / eco mode) – 0.15p
- Broadband router – 2.09p
