Tumble dryer switch that can save £25 in the heatwave | Personal Finance | Finance

July 10, 2026 3,344

Households can claw back some of the pain of a 13% hike in energy rates by making a handful of simple summer swaps, according to new research.

Comparison site Uswitch.com has worked out the savings on offer to anyone prepared to change their habits while the mercury climbs – starting with the tumble dryer. Ditching it in favour of an old-fashioned airing on the line can save the average household just over £25 over the four warmest months of the year.

And with another heatwave gripping Britain this week, swapping a hot shower for a cold one brings its own reward – a saving of £26.63 over the same period.

Smaller changes can also make a difference. Opening a window instead of using a dehumidifier for two hours a day could save £10.82 annually, while swapping a daily hot drink for a cold one could trim a further £4.39 from energy bills.

Meanwhile, choosing a salad instead of cooking one oven meal each week could save £2.63, and relying on daylight rather than an LED lightbulb for eight hours a day could cut another £2.11 from annual costs.Even switching to a solar charger for a mobile phone instead of charging from the mains could save around 58p a year.

Add up all the changes on offer and Uswitch believes households could save more than £72 before autumn arrives. But experts warn that any goodwill built up indoors can be wiped out in the garden. Even an efficient hot tub adds £1 to £1.30 a day to the bills – rising to £3 a day or more for cheaper, less efficient models.

Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch.com, said: “The moment the sun is out and the weather is warm, most of us stop thinking about energy altogether, but this is exactly the window where easy energy savings can be made.

“Energy rates have just risen significantly for millions, so making some simple swaps with your energy usage should help to take some of the pressure off from higher summer bills.

“One of the simplest but most efficient changes is to skip a tumble dryer cycle on a hot day and hang the washing up instead, and those savings really add up.

“Where you may need to consider the cost is in the garden. Hot tubs, patio heaters and outdoor lighting are increasingly popular. But make sure you check how much they cost to run, as a hot tub left on all summer can undo every saving made elsewhere in the house.”

Uswitch is also urging households not to let the sunshine distract them from shopping around for a better energy deal. The best fixed tariffs are currently running around 15 per cent below standard rates, offering average savings of £249 — protection that will still be paying off once the heating goes back on in the autumn.

Mr Gallizzi added: “Don’t let switching your tariff fall off the to-do list just because the weather’s nice, as households can save up to £249 on average by fixing right now. If you are wondering whether to opt for a fixed deal or stay on a standard tariff, the answer is clear – the majority of fixed tariffs available will save you money, not just now but also over the winter months.”

Uswitch’s top five summer energy tips