How to save money on one of the household appliances that uses the most energy
Many families are looking for ways to save money on their bills this winter amid the cost of living crisis, with energy prices almost double what they were last year.
The cost of a unit of energy has been capped for consumers under the government's energy price guarantee, meaning a bill of £2,500 per year for the average household.
This is still substantially higher than in 2021, meaning a substantial hike in outgoings for households.
In his autumn statement, Jeremy Hunt confirmed the price guarantee at its current level will end in April and the cap will increase, bringing the average household bill up to £3,000 a year – a 20% increase.
For those looking to cut down on energy bills as temperatures fall, saving money on your fridge freezer could be a sensible option.
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According to research from Which?, a free-standing fridge freezer is one of the most energy-intensive appliances, costing the average household at £102 a year to run.
The only appliance that tends to cost most is a tumble dryer, which costs £170 a year on average.
A dishwasher is third at £96 and fourth is a washing machine, costing a household an average of £77 a year.
How to save money running your fridge freezer
Set the correct temperature
To save energy on running your fridge freezer you should set it at between 3 and 5 degrees, according to Citizens Advice. Any colder is not necessary and this is a safe and efficient range.
Cleaning and defrosting
Price comparison site Uswitch advises households to defrost their fridge freezers regularly to ensure they are running efficiently. Frost build up can make a freezer more expensive to run.
They also advise households to “clean behind your fridge and freezer to help keep them cool and working as efficiently as possible.”
Consumer experts Which? advise making sure there is no dust on a fridge's condenser coils, as this can prevent it from cooling properly. Thick dust can make an appliance up to 25% less efficient.
Storing food
Which? adds you should let your leftovers cool down outside so they do not raise the temperature inside the fridge.
It also advises defrosting food in the fridge, as this is the safest method and also brings down the temperature.
Uswitch advises keeping your fridge full as it uses less energy when it is stocked. Instead of buying food you may not eat, they advise keeping bowls of water on shelves rather than leaving them bare.
Fridge doors
Which? says homeowners should check the door seals are working correctly and close the doors as quickly as possible so warm air doesn't get inside.
They also say households should consider upgrading to an energy-efficient refrigerator but if they cannot afford to do this they should focus on measures they can take to prevent energy loss.
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Last week, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) announced that inflation – the rate at which prices increase – reached 11.1% in October, its highest level for 41 years and up from 10.1% in September.
The ONS said gas prices had increased by nearly 130% over the past year, while electricity had risen by 66%.
In addition, food inflation climbed from 14.5% in September to 16.2% in October, according to the ONS, its fastest rate for 45 years.
On Tuesday, prime minister Rishi Sunak braced his Cabinet for misery in the coming months as they discussed how to alleviate the crises.
The British economy will contract more than any of the world’s seven most advanced nations in the G7, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
OECD added governments needed to better target financial support to avoid wasting money and “entrenching” undesirable consumer spending behaviour,
