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Original poster

How many kWh of electric per day.. family of 4.

36 replies

User473847284737 · 10/09/2022 19:25

Family of 4, 2 adults, 2 kids. Both kids have sen and nearly always someone at home.

we had a smart meter fitted not too long ago after a long time of not really thinking about what energy we are using. We have gas boiler for central heating and water, everything else electric. We cannot get gas readings to work on smart meter so only looking at electric at the minute.

Dp worked out on average we've used 13 kWh per day over the last 6 months. Is that good or bad? Bad?!

since our smart meter we've been a bit more cautious and it's been about 10-11kwh, not a huge drop but a drop. The weathers been pretty dry so I've been drying indoors rather than dryer.

laundry is a big factor. We have a lot of laundry which is impossible to get down. Washing machine on at least once daily. Tumble dryer used when it's raining, I have an airer too for things too thick or they will shrink in the dryer. Both washer and dryer are newish models that should be more energy efficient.

big factor is also electronics. Nearly always a tv on or a device being charged as well as an Xbox might have an hour or two use each day.

as well as things like vacuuming and my steam mop!

we turn things off when not in used.

Dp boils the kettle a lot as he is a tea addict but he's been only boiling what he needs rather than overfilling.

we've just got a new oven (built in) which I hope will hope. Our old one took forever to heat up, needed to be cranked up high too cook and was not a fan oven. Hoping our new one is more energy efficient. We also have an air fryer but aren't noticing a big difference between that and oven so far.

our hob uses a lot of energy when used, that too takes ages to heat up too! I'm not sure if the cost of a new one will be worth it, will a newer one be more energy efficient??

OP posts:
modgepodge · 10/09/2022 19:40

I think ours (2 adults and a toddler! Is approx 10-11kwh per day on the days we don’t charge the electric car. We are not super careful but not overly wasteful either I don’t think. I think tv and device charging is fairly cheap compared to oven, tumble drier etc so I wouldn’t worry about those. Xbox May be a bit more but not super expensive.

whenever I see suggestions of replacing functional appliances I roll my eyes. I suspect it will be years before you make the money back.

modgepodge · 10/09/2022 19:42

(Sorry, not meaning I’m rolling my eyes at you as you are asking - but when it’s suggested as a way to save money! Eg when we replaced our boiler we were told how it would be more efficient so we’d save on gas bills. But the boiler was £5k, and the gas bill only a few hundred a year, it’ll be many years before we get the £5k back!!)

MNCar · 10/09/2022 19:48

2adults 3kids. 13kwh per day according to last billing period.

MNCar · 10/09/2022 19:49

17kwh per day in winter.

we both work from home too.

TheDressinggownofdoom · 10/09/2022 19:50

We use on average about 15 kwh per day currently.

We're a family of 4 and our house is purely electric. So this figure includes hot water and showers, cooking, washing and we also use the tumble dryer occasionally. I also WFH so there is someone home everyday. On days I don't use the tumble dryer, it's closer to 10kwh.

TheDressinggownofdoom · 10/09/2022 19:51

Obviously in winter, our usage is significantly higher.

Nolongera · 10/09/2022 19:52

User473847284737 · 10/09/2022 19:25

Family of 4, 2 adults, 2 kids. Both kids have sen and nearly always someone at home.

we had a smart meter fitted not too long ago after a long time of not really thinking about what energy we are using. We have gas boiler for central heating and water, everything else electric. We cannot get gas readings to work on smart meter so only looking at electric at the minute.

Dp worked out on average we've used 13 kWh per day over the last 6 months. Is that good or bad? Bad?!

since our smart meter we've been a bit more cautious and it's been about 10-11kwh, not a huge drop but a drop. The weathers been pretty dry so I've been drying indoors rather than dryer.

laundry is a big factor. We have a lot of laundry which is impossible to get down. Washing machine on at least once daily. Tumble dryer used when it's raining, I have an airer too for things too thick or they will shrink in the dryer. Both washer and dryer are newish models that should be more energy efficient.

big factor is also electronics. Nearly always a tv on or a device being charged as well as an Xbox might have an hour or two use each day.

as well as things like vacuuming and my steam mop!

we turn things off when not in used.

Dp boils the kettle a lot as he is a tea addict but he's been only boiling what he needs rather than overfilling.

we've just got a new oven (built in) which I hope will hope. Our old one took forever to heat up, needed to be cranked up high too cook and was not a fan oven. Hoping our new one is more energy efficient. We also have an air fryer but aren't noticing a big difference between that and oven so far.

our hob uses a lot of energy when used, that too takes ages to heat up too! I'm not sure if the cost of a new one will be worth it, will a newer one be more energy efficient??

This thread might be of some use to you.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/cost_of_living/4618028-the-how-much-does-this-cost-to-run-thread?page=1

Original poster
User473847284737 · 10/09/2022 19:56

modgepodge · 10/09/2022 19:42

(Sorry, not meaning I’m rolling my eyes at you as you are asking - but when it’s suggested as a way to save money! Eg when we replaced our boiler we were told how it would be more efficient so we’d save on gas bills. But the boiler was £5k, and the gas bill only a few hundred a year, it’ll be many years before we get the £5k back!!)

Thank you and yes it was suggested we'd replace Our boiler but it would take a long time to see the difference and we simply have not got the money to do so unless it goes wrong.

we got a new oven as it was very much needed anyway as ours was 15 years old and been on its last legs for a while, part of the plastic that holds the glass was broke and glued but the glass was not secure. It wasn't purely because we'd thought it was going to be more energy efficient but I hope it is 😊

OP posts:
Cynderella · 10/09/2022 19:58

Four adults, all at home all day with three of us working online. Two adults with ipads, phones, TV in evening. Two adult gaming most evenings. Washing machine 4-5 loads a week. Tumble drying Oct-Apr. Dishwasher 4-5 loads a week and American style fridge/freezer. Oven and hob, heating and hot water are gas.

Last year, we averaged 14kwh a day with just me WFH. This year, we're averaging that WITHOUT tumble dryer, lights on as they are in winter etc. Our gas is high too.

I' reduced dishwashing - it used to go on every day even though I used to nag about it not being full. I've taken over responsibility for that now. Have become much more diligent about turning everything off at night (apart from router and fridge freezer), but my big saving will be if I can avoid tumble drying.

Original poster
User473847284737 · 10/09/2022 19:58

Thanks all! I'm only talking about gas at the minute as our smart meter isn't taking gas feedings and a few weeks before we had that fit in we actually had a gas leak and had a new normal meter fitted which was then replaced by a smart meter. We don't have an accurate gas reading at the minute!

OP posts:
Original poster
User473847284737 · 10/09/2022 20:01

Tumble drying is a big factor here. Previously I had alway had it set to turn off when it had reached 'cupboard dry' but I've since been using 'hang dry' which doesn't get it quite as dry but as long as the items are pretty thin (don't put thick items in dryer if I can help it) it's still dry enough to put away especially if I leave it in the dryer afterwards for a while too - mainly pjs, socks and pants so no probs if creased either

OP posts:
Goldmember · 10/09/2022 20:05

We're a family of 4, lots of gadgets and WFH, detached 4 bed. Currently on 11kwh a day.

RenegadeKeeblerElf · 10/09/2022 20:10

2 adults, 2 teens, electric hob and oven, lots of devices, between 8 and 11kwh per day this month. We haven't used the tumble drier since June though.

DeathMetalMum · 10/09/2022 20:24

Between 7-10kwh a day. Same set up only heating/hot water is gas(no electric shower either). Two adults two pre-teens. We have pretty much cut out using the tumble dryer since January, we have a dehumidifier for autum-spring when needed. But our oven is about 12 years old and not very efficient kwh tends to jump to about 12-14kwh when we have a roast, which isn't often at the moment.

Aretheyhavingalaugh · 10/09/2022 20:27

Family of 4, 2 adults with 2 little ones using 9-10 kwhs per day

Aretheyhavingalaugh · 10/09/2022 20:28

Also same as PP, stopped using the tumble dryer as was costing too much!

AYearOfCushions · 10/09/2022 20:31

Mine is low I think. Average for august was 10-11 a day. Considering we both work from home and my job require two electric ovens being used (a lot) it's not too bad.

I've really been working on our usage and trying to work smarter with the electric and so far for September I'm averaging about 7-8 a day.

My gas is about 4 a day but no heating on yet!

Also family of 4

Kabalagala · 10/09/2022 20:32

Last year we averaged 9kwh a day. Currently using about 5kwh per day, will obviously increase over winter. Family of 5.

Hugasauras · 10/09/2022 20:34

We are about 13 a day too on average, four bedroom, family of four, both WFH (although I'm on mat leave at the moment). That's usually a washing machine load, dishwasher cycle and often a tumble dry. Have a very pukey newborn so we tend to do a wash a day at the moment

Hugasauras · 10/09/2022 20:36

Without the tumble dry it's nearer 10 or 11 a day. But we have super cheap electricity overnight so we run the tumble dryer (and other appliances) then, so it doesn't cost much at all.

AltheaVestr1t · 10/09/2022 20:38

13.1 average so far this year, family of four, 2 adults WFH.

Whiskers4 · 10/09/2022 20:44

Mostly two of us, but DD home a few days last month. Our gas was £16 - 104kw, so 3kw a day. In June/July it was £14pm. Shower runs off boiler. We have a gas hob and electric oven.

cakeorwine · 10/09/2022 20:45

Me and DS - 3 KWH per day.

You need a power monitor and a proper energy audit to understand what's using your electricity.

There's a guide here

www.mumsnet.com/talk/cost_of_living/4618028-the-how-much-does-this-cost-to-run-thread

inappropriateraspberry · 10/09/2022 20:46

2 adults, 2 children. I'm a SAHM, both children at school. Average around 10kwh, can be more if having to use the tumble drier! Highest data usage is about 14kwh.
We have oil fired heating.

FlyingFlamingo · 10/09/2022 20:47

9 on non car charging days, 2 adults and 2 children, occasional working from home. On a good day we might manage 7, today was 11 because I did 3 washes because it was dry.
I’ve reduced our dryer use to times when it’s unavoidable, and I’ll use the air fryer over the oven whenever I can.