SWITCH OFF
I’m an energy expert – five summer mistakes that could increase your bills and cost you £250
Plus tips on how you can save money where you can
YOU might think that your energy bill should naturally come down during the summer months if your central heating is off - but you could be wrong.
Even though it's warmer and most of us don't have the heating on all day, your bills could still be at risk of rising.
4
4
So it's important to be aware of common hot weather mistakes in your home that could increase your electricity bill by a massive £250.
While you might think nothing of it at the time, things like going for a long shower or leaving a switch on all day can cause your household bills to shoot up.
This is because while the gas isn't being used as often, your electricity is running rampant.
And it often confuses homeowners who get a shock when their bills are higher than expected.
READ MORE IN MONEY
Luckily, one energy expert has revealed the five common mistakes people make in summer that spike energy bills.
Experts at Heat Pumps UK have also shared their top tips on how you can cut back where possible.
Leaving technology appliances on or on standby
Many of us are guilty of leaving our appliances on standby rather than turning them off - because what if you want to use them again?
Although it may be more convenient, it's bad for your energy bills.
Most read in Money
Things like TVs, laptops, and gaming consoles all emit heat when they’re on and even on standby mode.
And experts found that you're likely wasting £100 in unnecessary energy bills during the summer months by doing this.
What are your rights if you're sent an incorrect bill?
So to maintain a cool room temperature and save money on your energy bill, switching off any unused electronics is a must.
Experts say: “It's best to unplug appliances you're not using as they still use energy and give off heat even on standby."
4
Using the tumble dryer
It can be very tempting to crack open the tumble dryer - especially when the wet Scottish weather stops us from drying our clothes outside on the washing line.
But experts have warned that it is a real waste of money during summer.
Even switching to putting your clothes on close horses or airers could save you some cash.
A typical Scottish family does about 45 loads of laundry a month on average.
At 4.5 kilowatts per cycle, running a tumble dryer for every load would cost around 50p.
So, that could add up to roughly £67.50 over the summer months.
Experts say: “Taking advantage of the warmer weather and drying clothes naturally in a rack will certainly save you some pounds."
Wasting hot water
We mentioned this before, but going for a long shower or even leaving the tap running can run away with your bills.
This is because it wastes hot water and around 18 per cent of a typical household's energy use comes from heating water - so every drop counts.
Revealing how much it's costing you, experts said: "I’d say a typical Scottish household could be wasting around £50 on their electricity bills through hot water waste."
They added: "Everyday habits like lingering in the shower, boiling a full kettle for a single brew, or a massive pot for a couple of veggies add up".
Five ways to slash your water bill by £500 a year
HOUSEHOLDS continue to feel the pinch from the rising cost of living crunch but many don't know they can find easy ways to reduce water usage and save money on bills.
There are plenty of water-saving methods which can be put in place at home, with minimal effort.
- Move from a traditional flush to a dual-flash toilet - £109
- Move from a higher flow to a low-flow showerhead - £94
- Reduce showers from eight minutes to five - £61
- Don't leave the tap running whilst brushing your teeth - £37
- Fix your leaking toilet - £236
Leaving lights blazing
With brighter nights and longer days during the summertime, there is less need to keep lights on inside the house all day.
And even though flicking on the lights might seem harmless, it all adds up.
Not only are you using extra electricity, which can bump up your bills, but some traditional bulbs also generate heat.
Experts advise switching to low-energy bulbs or LEDs which are much more energy-efficient than traditional lights.
Or even keeping your blinds open in the evening to make the most of the natural daylight can mean you don't need to put the light on at all.
Experts say: "Traditional light bulbs waste about 90 per cent of their energy generating heat instead of light.
"If you left only three bulbs on for four hours a day, at 2p per kilowatt-hour that would rack up to £21.60 over the summer."
4
Using fans wrong
Even though the Scottish weather has brought miserable rainy weather most of the summer, it's still been warm and clammy.
So for most of us, having a fan in the home has been a Godsend.
However, many people get them wrong because they circulate the air, creating a cooling breeze, but they don’t cool the room temperature.
Experts explain: “A big mistake people make with fans is leaving windows open.
"This lets hot air in, which, in turn, raises the room temperature and the fan simply keeps moving warm air around.
"A bowl of ice in front of your fan can create a cooler breeze and help you make the most out of your fan."
A typical fan uses between 30 and 100 watts depending on its size.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
On average, a 65-watt fan running for eight hours a day would cost around 12 pence per day.
That's roughly £10.80 over a three-month summer period.