Understanding Electricity Usage In Your Home And What Appliances Use The Most

Electricity is generally seen as an essential part of everyday life. However, there are still an estimated 1.2 billion people in the world without electricity! Yet, most people cannot imagine life without it.

You rely on the refrigerator in the morning to help you enjoy your breakfast, it keeps food fresh all day. The heating system uses electricity, as does your washing machine, lights, oven, and of course, the television. In short, electricity is taken for granted, until something goes wrong and you need a reputable electrician Sydney to resolve the issue.

However, electricity is expensive. That’s why so many people are looking into alternative solutions, such as installing their own solar panels. Of course, if you’re looking to save on electrical costs then the best place to start is by reducing your usage. For you to be able to do that you need to understand where the electricity is going in your home.

Cooling & Heating

If you’re using gas, oil, or even a wood-powered system then your electricity usage for heating your home is minimal. However, most people use electricity to power air conditioners which double as heaters. These are often the most practical and surprisingly efficient form of heating and cooling your house. But, they’ll use nearly 50% of your average energy consumption!

In most cases, this is the biggest drain on your electricity.

Included in this figure is the cost of running your electric water heater. Although tankless systems are becoming more popular, it’s still common to find an electrically heated water tank supplying water for the entire house. This is not an efficient way of ensuring you always have hot water.

Cooking

Your cooker is probably the highest-rated appliance in your home and it’s used daily. While you don’t normally have every part of the oven in use at the same time, the electrical draw of this appliance is significant and can make a significant contribution to your home electricity bill.

Washing Machines, Dishwashers, etc.

The next biggest drain on your electricity bill is all the other appliances in your home, such as a washing machine, dishwasher, and even your refrigerator. These don’t generally draw excessive amounts of electricity. But, the amount of time they’re in use ensures they use plenty of your electrical supply.

Other Items

At the smaller end of the consumption scale, you’ll find smaller items, such as televisions, mobile phones, game consoles, and similar. These generally have the lowest electrical draw. However, their cost can mount up if they are used excessively.

The cost of electricity continues to increase, potentially making it harder for you to pay all your bills and maintain your lifestyle. The good news is there are things you can do to reduce your electrical consumption.

Get Your Electrics Checked

It’s advisable to have a qualified electrician check your systems at least once a year. This will help to reduce the risk of fire in your home. Electrical faults are one of the biggest causes of house fires. But, an inspection can also highlight electrical leakage.

This is where bad wiring or appliances that aren’t working properly, continually pull power from the grid, without need it. This effectively wastes energy as it ‘leaks’ from your home. An electrician will identify this issue and help you resolve it, potentially saving you money.

 Change Your Settings

Turning your heating down one degree or air conditioning up one degree can make a big difference to the amount of electricity you use. It’s a simple measure but effective.

You should also consider when your heating and cooling systems are on. There is no need to heat or cool a house if you’re not at home. Adjust your settings to allow for work and you’ll notice your electricity bill going down.

Insulate

Heating and cooling are the biggest drains on your electricity supply. You can reduce the need to heat or cool by making sure your home has adequate insulation. This helps to maintain the temperature inside your home, reducing the strain on your heating and cooling system.

It won’t just save you electricity, it will also extend the life of your system, which can save you a significant sum in the long run.

Review Your Supplier

It’s a good idea to check what offers your supplier and other electrical suppliers have in place. The right offer can save you a significant sum of money. All you have to do is switch supplier or tell your current supplier that you’re thinking about it, they may offer you a better deal.

It doesn’t change your electrical usage but it can save you money.

Consumption

There are plenty of consumption meters that can be fitted into your electrical system. These will monitor your usage and help you identify when you’re using the most electricity. They can even help you to narrow down which appliances are pulling the power and whether you need to have them on.

By understanding when you’re using electricity and what for, you’ll be able to devise a plan to use less.

Change Appliances

In the short term changing appliances is an outlay. However, if your budget will stretch to new appliances you’ll find they use significantly less electricity and are more energy-efficient. Over time the appliances will pay for themselves, making them a worthwhile investment.

Don’t forget, even if you can’t afford to replace your appliances just yet. You can save a significant sum by drying your washing outside instead of in the appliance. Your clothes will smell fresher when hung outside and need less ironing.

Final Tips

The secret to reducing your electricity bill is to know what is currently using your electricity and look at ways in which you can reduce the usage. It’s different for every household but you’ll find it’s easy to monitor your current usage with a consumption meter.

Knowing where your electricity is used makes it very easy to reduce your usage and costs. You may even be able to consider switching to solar panels and sell excess electricity to the grid!