The “how much does this cost to run” thread?

[AtomicBlondeRose]

Based on posts about people thinking of using candles instead of electric lights - which is both dangerous and not likely to save any money, I’d like to set this thread up as a place where people can ask how much items in their house cost to run, to let posters make informed decisions about whether or not to keep using them after energy price rises.

If you want to ask, useful information to have is: the energy usage of the item - eg a heater might say on it that it’s 1000w. If you don’t know that the name/model number as accurately as possible. Also to give you a useful estimate it would be good to know your current gas/electricity price tariff price per unit. However it’s easy enough to work out at current and predicted price cap levels.

I can’t promise to answer everything so please can I call upon other numerate MNers to help out? I think this could be a real lifesaver.

How big is it? In calacity and yes, probably 😳

I don't know if I am working it out wrong.

I currently pay 27p per kwh electric (rounded the 27 down)

So 3.4x 0.27= 91p per day currently

And in october

3.4x 0.52= £1.76 per day

Or am I misunderstanding the kwh thing?

I got the smart plug as I had an idea the fridge freezer was the thing keeping our usage high

In terms of actual size, it is tiny for a fridge freezer. About 5 ft tall but ancient!

You are getting it right @Bettyboopsboop

I would also not expect small fridge freezer to chew through leccy like that! I am afraid, this is a case of ehat will workout better for you financially considering outlay for fridgefreezer

Yes, I am going to get one ordered now! Thank you __

I've just ordered this one (well, it's on back order) the writeup reckons it should use 175kwh a year.
Not as big as the one you're replacing, @Bettyboopsboop , mind..

Yes, we’ve got a smart plug on our fridge freezer too. Will find out the 24 hour usage tomorrow. Looks like that is where a big chunk of our unaccounted-for energy is going.

@HairyKitty

Dies your machine not alter your wash length depending on the weight of clothes you're washing. Mine does, so to compare even vaguely accurately I'd need to wash on one cycle, dry, wash the same clothes on the other cycle.

And I've read on MN that most people only have them
on for short bursts as they're really hot & stay warm!

@NotMeNoNo why would boiling water in a pan cause washing up?

@HairyKitty I don't expect it would be much, plus you have to make sure that area is closed off or the other roads are just working harder to heat the space.

I've started using the cotton eco setting on my washing machine at 30 for nearly all my washes (Cotton is the only setting that spins at 1400.) But I've never thought about the load - just fill it as much as usual. Is it usual for washing machines to specify a lighter load for the eco settings??

@comfortablyfrumpy

ingot a new one just before lockdown 1, to stock up on frozen veg & make sure my fresh veg kept better/longer (CEV & vegetarian on VLC diet for diabetes). I had been 'making do with a very small under counter fridge until I did my kitchen (still not done!). I didn't have anywhere to put it, that it wasn't in the way.

it's been a god send. I actually do not care how much it costs to run, it's worth all the pennies, I do not know how I coped before.

you'd have to prise it out of my dead, cold hands!!

it sits in a very annoying spot in the kitchen, but am I bothered??? NO. I'll be glad to get the kitchen done and have it in a better spot, but I never grumble about it being in the way. It needs a name really!!

Some gas stuff here:

Gas oven - gas mark 7 - for 10 minutes - (cooking pizzas)

Just over 1 KWH of gas - so 7p

I got DH to check the smart-plug just now given it was coming up on 24 hrs.

4.8kWh!!!!!. Just for the bloody fridge freezer!

Admittedly it’s so old that the bulb in the fridge draws 60w (we could see the consumption go up on the plug). But I never thought it would use that much.

@TooMuchToDoTooLittleInclination I feel you with that love for the American style fridge😂

Note for anyone with slightly older friges, keep an eye on temperature. Good temperature will keep your food longer and you will end up with less waste. Fridge in one rental curled milk within 5 days🙄

Not really. Just see what the smart meter says befire you turn it on then check it at one hour & 2 hours etc. once it's cold enough to need heating on!

@FlyingFlamingo I don't suppose you'll need to wait too long to try it out!

@NotMeNoNo

i always feel clothes on the line and when they're still a wee bit damp my mums voice rings in my ears 'perfect for ironing' 🤣

I don't iron. I used to iron everything, but found if I take the time to hang things in the line properly, they're fine.

I do miss ironed pillow cases & t towels though! Weird sausage!!

@SamBeckettslastleap yep totally agree. I was talking to a friend today about the price cap/DD/actual usage. Her DD is 'very clever' just gotA levels A* in maths & further maths plus 2 others, off to Uni to do maths degree could not get it, At All!

yet the maths she can do blows my tiny little mind! Just NO practical application.

@Bubblebubblebah she's not American! 🤣. She's a a Bosch standard Fridge/Freezer, but she feels huge after a wee undercounter fridge LOVE fridge at eye level!!

You make it sound so simple @ShesNotTheMessiah

I have just had a bath using has to heat the water and measured my usage by reading the meter before and after. Nothing else on the house using gas.

Used 0.211 m³ of gas, X 10.5 =
2.255 kWh

X unit price 7.334 =
16.55p.

normal size bath, not huge but not tiny, a couple of hot top us to keep it hot and to make it realistic, like it scalding hot.

so about 17 p at current prices to have a bath.

Hi, I’m sorry if this has already been asked/answered - does anyone know how much an electric steam bottle steriliser costs to run? Would it be about the same as the electric kettle?

It’s a Dr Brown one, if the specific make is needed. I tend to run it twice a day - morning for the previous evening/night/early morning bottles etc and early evening for the days worth of bottles. Wondering if it’s worthwhile just getting a couple of extra bottles and doing all at once.

I can’t find wattages easily for any steriliser but I’d say less than a kettle as they’re using a very small amount of water. How long does it run for?