The pressures of affording to heat our homes this winter continues to build after energy prices soared over the weekend.
And although there are ways to help cut down on energy usage, there's certain things that we can't go without in the winter, such as TV and heating devices.
While it's hard to stop using these altogether, switching appliances off at the wall when they aren't in use is a good way to save money on bills.
British Gas says that, even before the October price increase, turning our devices off at the wall rather than leaving them on standby could save you £147 a year.
And experts say a plug-in timer is a cheap and simple device that could help you cut your energy bills, by automatically turning off any appliances when they aren't being used.
These can be used for most things, such as radios, televisions, smart speakers, games consoles, and any other devices that use power when they're left on standby.
Many plug-in timers are available to buy for less than £5, and it could help you save energy and cut down on your electricity bills this winter. As the colder months begin to set in, the electrical experts at Toolstation explain four ways you can use a plug-in timer to slash your energy bill.
TV
According to Statista, people in the UK watch an average of three hours of TV every day. The rest of the time, the majority leave our TVs on standby - needlessly using electricity.
One of the main reasons most of us leave our televisions on standby is because it’s frustrating to have to fumble behind the TV to turn the socket on and off. Plugging your TV into a plug-in timer avoids this frustration while ensuring your device doesn’t sit on standby for long periods at times when it never gets used - like at night.
Heated airer
Electric heated clothes airers allow you to dry your clothes conveniently, whatever the weather. They already use far less energy than tumble dryers but using a plug-in timer can make them even more energy efficient.
By setting your plug-in timer to 30 minute intervals, you’ll use half the amount of energy to dry your clothes. The airer will remain warm in between intervals too, meaning it shouldn’t impact the drying time too much.
Slow cooker
With rising gas prices, slow cookers are being recommended as a cost effective way of preparing food. These days, the majority of slow cookers come with a built-in timer but if yours is a little older, you may have to manually turn it off and on. If you forget to turn it off, you risk not only overcooked food but also wasted money.
Using a plug-in timer to control your slow cooker means you can schedule when your slow cooker turns on and off. This means, even if you’ve been out of the house all day, you can walk in to piping hot food.
Deterrent lights
Lots of homeowners like to keep a light on when they’re away from home to deter thieves by making it look like somebody’s inside the house. But burglars are likely to see through it when the same light is left on for a long period of time. Plus, this will use a lot of energy.
A better option is to use a plug-in timer to control a couple of lamps throughout the house - deterring thieves by making it appear that somebody is moving through the home.
Simon Oram, electrical & smart technology manager at Toolstation has some advice for choosing a plug-in timer.
He said: "Plug-in timers come in both mechanical and digital versions which suit different needs. Mechanical versions tend to be more affordable but some find them a little fiddly. And while some say mechanical plug-in timers are more durable, digital ones do offer greater programmability. For example, you can set different schedules for different days of the week.
"If you’re just looking for ways to save on your energy bill, essentially, a mechanical version is all you need."
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