Cut Costs: 5 Ways to Run Your Home Appliances More Efficiently
Expert tips to run your appliances more efficiently and take the sting out of your next power bill
Colin Jones
30 March 2022
Houzz Australia contributor. I am an appliances expert and the Category Expert at Appliances Online.
Houzz Australia contributor. I am an appliances expert and the Category Expert at... More
Being mindful about how you run the major appliances in your home isn’t just good for your back pocket, it’s good for the environment. Here are five tips for keeping your appliance usage in check. The sixth step is to sit back and watch the savings (and your eco cred) add up.
1. Washing Machines and Dryers
Find an appliance retailer near you who can help you buy energy-efficient appliances
- Wash at a lower temperature: Cleaning your clothes in cold water uses less energy than hot water, plus it’s gentler on their fibres. But cold water does not always remove stubborn dirt and stains. If this is a concern, set the washing-machine temperature to 30°C – this is warm enough to lift stains, but uses less energy than a hot wash.
- Consider a heat-pump dryer: Heat-pump machines come with an average six- to eight-star energy rating (some reach as high as a whopping 10 stars), compared with around 1.5 to two stars for a traditional vented dryer, making them the most economical and energy-efficient style of dryer on the market.
Find an appliance retailer near you who can help you buy energy-efficient appliances
- Fill ’em up: Washing machines and dryers run more efficiently when they are filled up correctly. Many new washing machines have load sensors that ‘read’ the size of the load and use the perfect amount of water to get it clean. Some new washers and dryers have load indicators that tell you when the machine has reached capacity.
- Touch test: You can check whether you’ve filled an older machine to capacity by putting your hand on top of the washing – it should come a quarter of the way down from the top of the drum (consider this a full load).
- Clean your dryer’s lint filter: Clean your filter after every use so air can pass through it and the machine doesn’t have to work harder than it needs to. When the filter is filled with lint particles, your dryer has to work much harder to push heated air through it to dry your clothes – which costs you money. Some heat-pump dryers have a self-cleaning condenser, which means the machine does the clearing automatically.
2. Heating
- Size it right: Choose the correct-sized heater to warm your space. Too small and the heater won’t warm the room; too large and it will overheat it and waste power.
- Choose an efficient heater: Gas and convector models are among the most energy-efficient heating options.
- Cover doors and windows: Use curtains, window coverings and draught stoppers under doors to prevent heat from escaping.
- Only heat the rooms you’re in: Keep the doors between rooms closed.
- Up the snuggle factor: Investing in a few extra winter items, such as a doona inner, can keep you warm at night without the need to flick on the heating switch.
- Invest in insulation: Think of insulation like a blanket for your home. By adding it to your roof, you can reduce your heater’s running costs by up to 30 percent. Insulate your walls and floors too, and the savings increase.
3. Fridges
- Upgrade to a model with a higher star rating: New fridges are far more energy-efficient and cheaper to run than their predecessors. So if yours is more than 10 years old, consider an upgrade.
- Only choose as big as you actually need: The larger the fridge, the more energy it consumes. So only buy as big as you actually need.
- Keep it full: Fridges and freezers work by cooling the air inside them, therefore it pays to keep your fridge as full as possible. This means less air inside the fridge needs to be cooled.
- Make sure the seals work properly: If not, cool air will simply escape from your fridge. To check, try the paper test. Place a piece of paper between the door and the fridge, close the door and pull. If the paper slips out easily then it’s time to replace your fridge seals.
- Keep it shut: Every time you open the door you let the cold air escape. Avoid fridge gazing and only open the door when you actually need to.
4. Dishwashers
- Upgrade to a heat-pump dishwasher: These dishwashers use steam technology to clean plates, cups and pans, and they have impressive water and energy ratings.
- Fill it up: Make sure the machine is fully loaded before you hit the button. At the same time, avoid over-filling – this can lead to dishes coming out dirty, which only means more cleaning (and more time, water and energy wastage).
- Get to know the features: Some models come with options such as ‘eco-load’ or ‘half-load’ that make for more efficient cleaning. Also consider using the rinse or pre-wash cycle of your dishwasher, rather than running dishes under the tap, to save water.
- Use quality dishwasher detergent: This can help you get better results and reduce the need to re-wash.
5. Ovens and Cooktops
Browse stunning images of Australian kitchens
- Go induction: Consider upgrading your gas or ceramic cooktop to an energy-efficient induction model.
- Buy smart: When choosing a new oven, look for a style that has a well-insulated door, as this will keep the heat in.
Browse stunning images of Australian kitchens
Also, use the smart cooking tips below:
Your turn
How do you keep your appliance running costs down? Share your tips in the Comments below, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Need more kitchen design inspiration? Don’t miss Clever Tips and Tricks From UK Kitchen Stories
- Thaw frozen foods fully before cooking to save time and energy.
- Use the minimum amount of water in your pot and bring the liquid to the boil quickly on a high setting before turning the heat down.
- Steam your vegetables rather than boiling them – this saves energy.
- Choose the correct saucepan size for your cooktop and cook with the lid on so heat doesn’t escape.
- Use your kettle or instant boiling-water tap to boil water, rather than the stove.
Your turn
How do you keep your appliance running costs down? Share your tips in the Comments below, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Need more kitchen design inspiration? Don’t miss Clever Tips and Tricks From UK Kitchen Stories
What are you working on?
Related Stories
Renovating Advice
How Do I Find, Assess & Hire the Right People for My Renovation?
Do you need a kitchen designer or a joiner? An architect or an interior designer? Find out with our essential reno guide
Full Story
Renovation Guides
What Key Measurements & Room Dimensions Should I Know for a Reno?
Read practical information about key room measurements and minimum clearances for fittings and fixtures in every room
Full Story
Bedrooms
12 Decorating Tips to Make Any Bedroom Look Better
By Anne Ellard
Want to know how to make your bedroom look better? Here are 12 great tricks
Full Story
Renovation Guides
Room by Room: Experts on Ways to Avoid Common Renovation Blunders
From the kitchen to the garden, and all areas in between, experts identify common mistakes and share priceless insights
Full Story
Bathroom Expert Advice
5 Reasons Your Bathroom Smells Funky (and How to Fix the Problem)
A plumber reveals five reasons your bathroom might smell like sewage or emanate a musty odour
Full Story
Kitchen Renovations
From Planning to Pendants: Kitchen Lighting Essentials
By Joanna Tovia
This valuable guide will give you all you need to know about choosing kitchen lighting for fabulous form and function
Full Story
Living Rooms
The Full Picture: How High Should Your TV Be?
By Matt Clawson
We look at an important question to consider when locating your television: how high should you set it?
Full Story
Bathrooms
All the Dimensions You Need to Know for Your Bathroom Makeover
Fit everything comfortably in a small or medium-size bathroom by knowing standard dimensions for fixtures and clearances
Full Story
Renovation Guides
How to Control the Cost of Your Renovation, Room by Room
Where to save, where to spend (and all the tricks in between) for keeping the cost of your renovation on track
Full Story
Architecture
Renovation Insight: How to Choose an Architect
A great architect can turn your dream home into reality – three industry experts reveal where to look for the right one
Full Story
Would seem using appliances such as washers, dryers, dishwashers hot water units when the solar panels are operating makes most sense.
Richard Blake
Remember ceiling fans do not cool a room they actually add heat to the room, They cool a person by evaporating perspiration so when no person is in the room leaving a fan running is actually counterproductive.
Richard Blake
Thanks for the article and everyone’s tips.
Santokitty. I assume you set your home to an appropriate temp for the season….I think this should be around 18 in winter and around 24 in summer (that’s my tip). I feel like too many people want the creature comforts like walking around a house in a T shirt in the middle of winter and have those temps the wrong way around, meaning so much more energy usage and $$$