How To Find Which Appliance Is Using Too Much Electricity?

Is your latest energy bill a shocker? A sudden increase in electricity consumption is largely associated with your home appliances. With that, knowing how to find which appliance is using too much electricity can save your pocket from the monthly dilemma.

It’s usually expected for a household to have increased energy consumption during the winter and summer seasons.  You might consider switching energy providers to save on electricity costs.  For instance, in Texas, you can make good use of energy comparison websites to compare electricity rates and find what is the best electricity rate in Texas.

How to find which appliance is using too much electricity

All electronic appliances and devices will consume electricity but at different rates. However, many homeowners aren’t aware which of these appliances are the hungriest in terms of energy consumption.

According to studies, about 35% of residential energy is wasted. This is due to what they call “electricity vampires”. These are appliances or devices that devour electricity when not in use but still plugged in.

Below, we listed these items to help you manage your energy consumption.

Top electricity users in your home

The following are the appliances that consume the most power in a household:

Cooling and heating

Your HVAC system accounts for the largest part of energy consumption at home. On average, these appliances constitute 47% of your monthly energy bill.

According to the latest numbers, most households will pay an average of $660 per year for heating and another $400 for cooling in their electricity bills.

Water heater

Next to cooling and heating, your water heater is the second most electricity-hungry system in your home. This is much so if you live in a place that experiences harsh winters.

It amounts to 14% of your total household energy consumption or an average of $300 per year. Take note that this is on a sliding scale depending on the weather of the place you live in.

Lighting

Your lighting at home consumes the third most electricity in your household. This isn’t surprising since every room in a house has at least one light source.

On average, lighting accounts for $280 a year or more. It also depends on the type of lighting you’re using. If your home has LED or energy-saving lighting, your energy consumption on this part would be much less.

Washer and dryer

As necessities at home, your washer and dryer will cost you at least $140 a year. This is around 13% of your entire electricity bill.

Moreover, households with many members tend to have a higher electrical expenditure on washing and drying.

Refrigerator

Your cold drinks always come at a price. It’s because your fridge will cost you around $95 a year, which is still a humble estimation since many households are now investing in massive three-door models.

Take note that opening and closing the fridge open frequently will consume more power. It’s because the appliance has to compensate for the sudden increase in temperature as hot air enters the fridge.

Electric oven

For those who use their ovens daily, electrical consumption for this specific appliance can amount to at least $90 a year. Take note that this can be much bigger if you’re into baking and cooking.

Television, cable box

Your television set, cable box, and media players all consume a substantial amount of electricity. On average, this will cost you $57 a year, but if you have a bigger screen, the energy consumption will be much bigger.

Top electricity “vampires” in your home

Aside from the appliances that use the most energy, it’s also important that you know which ones are the “electricity vampires”. Basically, these are the appliances or devices that consume electricity even when not in use but left plugged in.

These electricity hoggers can drastically increase your energy bill without your knowledge. Also, many households are guilty of overlooking this aspect.

Here are some of the appliances that consume power even when turned on or not doing any of their major functions:

  • Computers. Leaving a computer on standby or shut down but still plugged in will still use energy. If you do this habitually and your house has multiple units, you’ll surely feel its effect on your monthly bill.
  • Television. Even if you turn your TV off using the remote, keeping it plugged in will consume energy. This is the same with DVD/VCR and similar devices.
  • Printers. All types of printers can steal electricity even if it’s not used. It’s because the device will be on standby mode as long as it’s plugged.
  • Microwave. Microwaves consume constant energy, so make sure that you unplug them when not in use. This could be a hassle, but it will help in saving up on electricity.
  • Heating furnace. Even if your central heating furnace is turned off, it can still use a lot of electricity. As long as the unit isn’t unplugged, its system isn’t fully shut down.

Common mistakes that make you waste electricity at home

Overall, your home appliances aren’t pure evil when it comes to energy consumption. Sometimes, your habits or negligence could be the culprit to it.

Here are some that many households are guilty about:

Forgetting to turn the lights off

Leaving the lights on unnecessarily is one of the most common causes of energy wastage at home. After all, it’s easy to forget to flip the switch when walking out of the room.

Over time, the electricity wastage will add up and catch up on your electricity bill. This is the case even if you’re using efficient bulbs.

Using inefficient appliances

Nowadays, there are appliances made to consume less power without compromising their functions. This is intended to help households save electricity and cut back on their energy bill.

If you’re planning to purchase a new appliance, try to look for an Energy Star seal. Energy Star-certified products are proven to help save energy compared to non-certified counterparts.

Using the wrong thermostat setting

Setting your thermostat too high or too low will take its toll on your energy consumption.

For example, if you’re using your air conditioner, you should try to keep it at around 78F. This temperature is cool enough to keep you comfortable without being too chilly. Also, this will help balance your energy consumption.

The same goes for your heating system. You should avoid overdoing it unless you can afford to pay the price.

Not fixing ‘leaks’

While it’s a given that HVAC systems consume the most energy in your home, they will eat up more electricity if your home has ‘leaks’. These are gaps or openings where cold and hot air can escape.

Such openings are often found on windows, doors, utility wire holes, and more. The lack of insulation will also reflect on your energy bill at the end of the month.

Using hot water to wash clothes

It takes additional power to heat water in your washing machine. While hot water helps remove stubborn dirt, it will also increase your energy bill.

Aside from that, regular use of hot water will reduce the lifespan of your clothes. It’s because high temperatures can damage fabrics easily, not to mention that it can also fade the color faster.

Browsing your fridge often

Many are guilty of this: when we’re bored, we go to the kitchen and browse the fridge for no reason. Doing this will spike electricity consumption as opening the fridge door makes the cold air escape, thus the unit has to work more.

Overall, a person will spend around 10 hours looking at or opening a fridge each year. The energy wasted on this habit accounts for 7% of your fridge’s overall electricity usage.

Effective ways to save electricity at home

The good thing is that there are many ways to save electricity in your home. The following are some of the helpful hacks to keep in mind:

Use natural light more

During the day, you can turn off the lighting by pulling the curtains and letting natural light in. By simply turning off a 60-watt light bulb for four hours each day, you can save at least $9 annually. Imagine doing this in all your lights around the house and the savings will be much bigger.

Cut your shower time

Do you love throwing concerts in the shower? Unfortunately, it’s time to kiss your concealed singing career goodbye. Shorter shower times can save you up to $30 from heating, lighting, and water use annually.

Say goodbye to your old TV

While purchasing a new television is an added expense, it will be a smart way to save electricity in the long run. It’s because old TV models have outdated technology that consumes more energy. As much as possible, switch to LED screens but avoid very big ones.

Run your laundry in full loads

Avoid washing your clothes per piece or per day because it only wastes water and electricity. If possible, run a full load each week. As much as possible, the goal is to reduce washing cycles.

Unplug appliances that are not in use

If an appliance isn’t in use, make sure that you unplug it. As mentioned earlier, home appliances still consume energy even if it’s not in use. You should do this, especially on electricity-hungry appliances like computers, air conditioners, printers, dryers, and more.

Use a programmable thermostat

A programmable thermostat will let you set temperatures and usage duration. So even if you forgot to turn the AC off before leaving the house, the thermostat will automatically do the job.

Moreover, this device will prevent you from running heating and cooling appliances if not needed. In just a month, you’ll see a major difference in your electricity bill.

Final words

Saving electricity is a challenge for many households. But with this guide on how to find which appliance is using too much electricity, we hope that you can slowly reduce wastage at home.

Aside from identifying each appliance’s energy consumption, it’s also important that you observe conservation steps as we discussed above.

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