Households with kettles face £65 charges – change 1 thing | Personal Finance | Finance

An energy expert has warned households about the hidden costs of using their kettles and how to avoid them. Kettles are found in most British houses, and they are used throughout the day for making things like tea and coffee. It turns out, they can guzzle a lot more energy than you realise, especially if you make one common mistake when using it daily. I found this out when I asked energy experts about the cost of running tumble dryers. One expert responded to me and explained the hidden cost of kettles.

Matthew Sheeran, external relations manager at Money Wellness, an organisation commissioned by the government’s Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), said that people often assume the best way to cut energy bills is to get rid of certain appliances, such as tumble dryers. However, they should sooner examine exactly how they are using their appliances to see if they can save money that way. That is certainly the case when it comes to kettles, he says.

“Constantly filling it up and boiling more water than you need could be costing as much as £65 a year compared to only boiling what you need,” he said. “Even an extra cup or two each time adds up, especially in homes where the kettle’s always on the go.”

Many British households have been seeking out smart ways to reduce their annual costs as many bills, such as council tax and water, have increased in April.

There are several appliances to think about when trying to reduce your annual energy bills, experts say. According to Sheeran, another one to consider is WiFi routers.

“Even smaller appliances can make a difference,” he said. “WiFi routers, for example, can cost around £15 a year to run. Turning them off overnight can help, although it’s not always practical for everyone. And with electric showers, simply cutting your shower time to five minutes or using an eco setting can reduce energy use by up to 50% per use.

“When it comes to saving money, it’s less about cutting appliances out completely and more about using them smarter.”