WITH summer in full flow, you’ll no doubt be relying on things like fans or air con to keep you cool.
But while they’re providing some much needed relief, have you thought about the rising costs in your energy bills if you’ve got them plugged in 24-7 for the foreseeable?
Fortunately, the experts are on hand to help guide you through the next couple of months and make sure you keep your pounds in check in the process.
A pro from Simply Plastics has helpfully broken down the hidden costs of using appliances such as fans, dehumidifiers, or – if you’re one of the lucky ones – a hot tub.
And with the new energy price cap coming into place on the 1st of July, it's never been more timely.
Here, Andrew Haydon from Simply Plastics has said there are some clever tricks to cheat the system, save money and ensure you don’t pay over the odds over the summer period…
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FANS AND AIR CON
Andrew says: “An average tower fan wattage is 56.5W, which works out to 1.695p per hour of usage.
“With many people working from home, fans are often left on all day and night to keep cool.
“Leaving a fan on for 24 hours works out to around 40.68p, which is £2.85 over the course of a week.
If you were to leave your fan on for 12 hours a day, throughout the whole summer, until the energy price cap period ends on the 30th of September, it’ll cost you approximately £18.71.”
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Meanwhile he also lifted the lid on air conditioning units, which usually require between 700 – 1000 watts.
Andrew continued: “An average of 850W works out as 26p per hour.
“When used for 12 hours a day, it would cost approximately £3.06, which would be £281.52 over the course of the summer.”
But he said there are ways to curb that spending – and it’s all to do with the glazing you have on your windows.
Andrew revealed: “In the same way that it keeps the heat in during the winter, applying acrylic secondary glazing to your windows can keep some of the heat out during the summer.
“This means you won’t need to use your fan or air conditioning as much, and it will eliminate draughts to stop the cool air escaping.
“In the winter, secondary glazing can save you up to 10% on your energy bills, so could potentially save up to 10% on how much you spend on keeping cool, too.”
HOT TUBS
With many people choosing to upgrade their gardens and invest in hot tubs to make the most of the warm weather, there’s plenty of people wondering how they’re going to afford to run it.
Andrew explained: “An average sized inflatable hot tub, for up to four people, has a heating and pump system that uses around 2kW per hour.
“From cold tap water, it can take around 24 hours to get to the top temperature, which would cost £14.40.
“With an average capacity of 800 litres, it would add approximately £1.12 to your water bill each time you fill it, depending on your area of the UK.”
Of course, these costs can mount up, so Andrew shared his top tips on how you can cut down on spending, but still reap the benefits of the hot tub.
He said: “Keeping your hot tub covered with an insulated lid when it’s not in use will reduce how much heat escapes and will mean you won’t have to heat it for as long next time you use it.
“Most manufacturers recommend changing the water every 1–3 months. Investing in the correct chemicals and filter equipment will also mean you won’t have to change the water as often.”
DEHUMIDIFIERS
With the humidity reaching new highs, households up and down the country have turned to these appliances to help.
But what’s the cost?
Andrew shared: “Dehumidifier wattage ranges from small units with around 22 watts, to bigger ones that are up to 500 watts, which means the costs vary enormously.
“Based on a mini dehumidifier, running 24 hours a day, it would cost you around 16p per day, or £1.12 in a week.
“But a bigger model could be up to £3.60 per day, or £25.20 a week.”
Instead, Andrew said you could look at alternative ways to get the dehumidifier effect.
He suggested: “Try DIY methods to absorb humidity from the air, with things you may already have at home, such as rock salt, baking soda, and charcoal.”
HOSE
As we’re all spending more and more time outside soaking up the sun, Andrew pointed out that the decking or patio area in your garden may require some TLC.
But there’s a cheaper way of cleaning it than you might think.
Andrew commented: “You might think that using a jet washer to clean outdoor space costs more than using a hose because of the electricity used. But as they use far less water, you save more money on your water bill than you spend on your electricity.
“Approximately 3500 litres of water flows through a hose in an hour, which adds up to around £4.90.”
On the other hand, he said: “An average jet washer has a wattage of 2500W, which works out to around 75p for an hour of use.
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“It also uses much less water than using a hose, at around 500 litres per hour, which costs around 70p – a total cost of £1.45.”
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