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.

I read that using a dishwasher at full capacity and not on its very hottest setting is cheaper than heating water with gas to wash the same pots. I’ve never investigated carefully but would be really interested if anyone has

Heated airers do work better if you cover them, to stop the heating escaping, but there's on need to buy a cover. Wash a duvet cover and chuck that over the top if you have one that needs washing. We've even chucked a dust sheet over ours before to keep the heat in. No specialist covers needed.

Yeah, they eat more, then less throughout the process. I think standard conditions mean room temperature so about 23c? If your house is colder, it will consume more etc. Lots of the things have variables like this and it is very annoying. The way ovens are often connected also doesn't allow to use the measuring gizmos.

I've looked up the dishwasher manual which says 0.9 kwh per cycle but it only quotes the eco cycle (and I prefer the next cycle up). I can't find a figure for the other cycles.

Thing about dishwashers I think is if you have a full household there’s nothing gained by trying to use less pots as you’ll still have to put the washer on daily. I can’t think of a way to reduce number of washes really

I think that we could stretch it out a bit @HairyKitty but if it's not alot of energy it might be a bit like the light bulbs and not worth the misery

I think when I cook later I will tell my sons to keep their electricity usage static, and watch the smart meter like a hawk. See if I can work out what my oven costs for cooking tonight’s gourmet offering of frozen chicken and chips … and if I can justify an air fryer

I know who wants a stinking dishwasher

If you post up the weight or amount of chicken and chips maybe an air fryer owner can tell you how long that takes?

Yes, that would be useful! I shall report back later

Brilliant thread, OP.

Could I be cheeky and ask for help with two things?

Firstly, my dishwasher eco 50o programme takes absolutely ages. I think +2hrs. I wonder if it's worth using it or just manually washing dishes/pots. It's a bosch, this is the model. www.bosch-home.co.uk/product-list/SMV40C00GB

And my washing machine! Again, is it worth running a 40o mixed load cycle which takes 1hr 4mins or eco 40 which takes 2:44. It's a samsung Series 5 WW90T4540AX/EU.

Thank you so much, with a new baby and a cold, cold flat to heat I'm trying to find ways to cut costs wherever I can.

Following

I'm also confused about washing machines.

My Miele has an eco cottons setting which is 40 degrees and takes 3 hours regardless of the size of the load.
But is I use the 30 degree setting which is shorter and reduces the time automatically for a less full load, does that use less energy overall?

Two surprises recently about costs. Many new TVs in UK do not comply with EU rates of consumption. The marginally improved picture quality is obtained by extra power. Looking at new TVs in Curry's I could not tell difference in picture quality. Large screens use a significant amount of electricity.

Next shock was having to buy a transformer for a light fitting, £40. It fits in ceiling rose to supply multi effect 7w lamps. I have another of similar type. (they were already in the house when I bought it).

Thank you so much! Vertual gin being sent you way

@Tulipomania find the manual for your machine and it will tell you the kWh of each setting. I can’t say without seeing that as “eco” means different things on each machine.

Black metal mama- do your manual says eco is the cheapest setting available and it’s 1kwh for the load. What you would need to do (bit laborious) is work out how much gas you would actually use to wash all that lit by hand. This would depend on a few things such as bowl v running tap, separate cold rinse or hot rinse, how hot you have your water, how high you have your flow.

You could collect a whole dishwasher load of stuff. Make sure the heating/shower etc are off, take a gas reading, wash it all by hand how you normally would, report back with the number of gas units used and someone can do the calc for you.

But like other poster said, even if it saves you 50p, how much is that 20+ minutes of your life worth that you save hand washing, esp with a little one.

Ah, @HairyKitty got there first on the dishwasher!

@Blackmetalmama Your washing machine uses 1.24kwh on the eco program although it’s a bit confusing as it says “eco 40/60” and surely 60 uses more? So 35p at most at current rates. There’s no listing for the mixed program but synthetics 40 degrees uses 0.68kwh so 19p.

@Blackmetalmama
If you have gas CH / hot water heated in a tank, it's normally going to be more efficient to use the hot water in the tanks that's already been heated for bathing etc, than to heat water again in a dishwasher.

If your hot water is on a combi without tanks / electric, then less clear cut!

It's why I always wash up in the sink. Plus, it's normally just quicker. Bloody stupid dishwasher just takes up space I could have used for storage!

@HairyKitty thank you- that makes sense. And the 50p is definitely worth the 20 minutes!

@AtomicBlondeRose thank you, that's really helpful. 🙂

@alwaysmovingforwards definitely agree. I would much rather have had an extra cupboard for storage rather than a dishwasher, however it came with the house.

@nannynick thank you, looks like that is the current version of the one we have.

So the fan heater uses twice as much as the radiator and we can use the radiator for an hour for the same price as the fan heater for half an hour. There is a benefit of residual heat from the radiator too after it's switched off.

Great thread, thanks OP.

Can I ask something? I have an old Candy washing machine, no eco programme. I tend to wash everything except towels and bedding on the 30' or 44' wash. Would that be cheaper than a longer 30 wash, which is 1 hr 29?

I don't have an air fryer or Ninja or instant pot, just a cooker and a slow cooker and a microwave. I'm trying not to use the oven too much. Is it cheapest to use the microwave? What about the hob?

I have an old Belling range cooker (possibly from the 80s?). It's gas on top, which is fine, but the ovens are electric. I don't have any energy data for it, aside from guessing that it's probably very inefficient due to its age?

Am I right in thinking that it's going to be sensible to use it as rarely as possible, given my alternative options of instant pot, 2kw air fryer or slow cooker? Basically just using the oven for an occasional treat of a roast, with as much other stuff shoved in with it as possible?

I've asked Belling if they could hazard a guess as to the running costs, but I don't expect a useful answer, to be honest.

I am big fan of the dishwasher. We have full sized for 2. Run every 2 -3 days😁 I do have pots and pans which can't go in or I don't want them in, but that few things aren't any hassle.
My integrated Candy dishwasher (CDI1LS38S) uses 1.53kwh for Universal programme. So on current cap it's 42p every 2-3 days.
I buy tablets cheap or stock up on offers (got free ones now for 3 months lol). About £5 a month.

I think I have some glass washing trauma from childhood😂