Householders warned not to use washing machine at this time of day for one key reason
Householders are being warned of an energy-saving hack over fears it could cause a fire in their homes overnight. Experts are urging cash-strapped households not to run powerful household appliances overnight in a bid to save money, as the risk of fire could far outweigh the financial benefit.
Last month, Ofgem confirmed the price cap - from the start of July to the end of September - will fall from £1,849 to £1,720, a saving of £129 over the year. Despite the the drop, energy bills this July are still 10 per cent higher than they were at this time last year.
According to energy experts at Grant Store, using appliances like washing machines, tumble dryers, and dishwashers while you sleep could leave you vulnerable to devastating fires, especially when no one is awake to respond quickly to a fault.
Some households on off-peak energy tariffs may be tempted to run these high-powered devices during the night, when electricity prices are lower. But experts say this growing trend, often referred to as an 'energy bill hack,' comes with serious risks.
The expert said, 'While off-peak tariffs can help reduce your energy bills, running large appliances like washing machines and dryers at night is not worth the potential danger.
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'These machines generate heat, rely on motors, and draw significant power. If something goes wrong and no one is awake to catch it, the consequences can be catastrophic.'
Instead, Grant Store's specialists recommend only running such appliances when someone is home and alert. That way, if a malfunction does occur, it can be dealt with quickly before it escalates.
They added: "We understand why people want to take advantage of cheaper overnight tariffs, especially during a cost-of-living crisis, but safety must come first. A house fire caused by a faulty appliance isn't worth a few pounds of savings."
As a safer solution, the experts recommend home battery systems, which allow you to store cheaper electricity overnight and use it during the day when you're awake, and appliances can be monitored.
Home batteries typically store between 5kWh and 15kWh of energy, depending on the system. That means they can power multiple wash cycles, depending on the efficiency of the machine and cycle length. A standard washing machine, for example, can use around 2.1kWh per cycle.
When using a tumble-dryer, experts previously suggested switching loads while the dryer is still warm from its previous cycle, as this can conserve the remaining heat inside the dryer for your next load of clothes.
This can help shorten drying time, as the machine won't need to work as hard to dry your clothes.
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