2 days ago
Electric blankets vs fan heaters: Which is better for your wallet?
We look into the costs of 'phantom' power and how much your electric blanket and fan heaters are costing you.
Image: IOL
As South Africans experience more cold fronts and severe weather, many households are grappling with rising electricity bills.
Local energy expert, Wes Reddy, has taken to TikTok to shed light on how various household appliances can cause dents in your wallet, offering insights and tips on how to help consumers save money.
His series of educational videos, often featuring practical tests and direct advice, has garnered traction from South Africans struggling with energy costs.
The hidden drain of tiny heaters
One of the most noteworthy revelations from Reddy's recent uploads shows the surprising expense of small fan heaters.
Reddy explained that tiny heaters consume approximately 2000 watts. If used for just one hour each day, they will use 2 units of electricity.
At a rate of R4 per unit, this amounts to around R240 per month. If you leave the heater on for four hours daily, the cost escalates to R960 per month. Extending usage to six hours a day could result in a staggering and eye-watering R1440 monthly expense.
Viewer comments further emphasise this issue, with one user remarking that R960 could instead purchase "a few extra blankets," a sentiment that Reddy agreed with.
Are electric blankets a good alternative for being warm?
But are electric blankets a warmer and cheaper alternative?
In contrast to the expensive fan heaters, electric blankets present a more energy-efficient option for keeping warm.
Reddy's video, "Electric Blanket Power Use: What It Really Costs You!", looks into the actual costs associated with using these blankets.
Electric blankets consume approximately 60 watts per hour, equating to 0.06 units of electricity. At a rate of R4 per unit, this translates to just 24 cents per hour.
So if you use your electric blanket throughout the night, the total cost amounts to only R1.92 per day, which adds up to R57.60 per month.
Chargers and 'phantom power'
Another common misconception is whether chargers consume power when not in use. Reddy's video, "Do Chargers Use Power When Not in Use?", explores the concept of "phantom power."
To investigate, Reddy plugged in three different cellphone chargers and a laptop charger, but ensured they were not connected to any devices.
When cellphone chargers are plugged in but not actively charging, they consume no power at all.
However, the laptop charger draws 0.03 amps at 230V, equating to 7 watts of power while idle. If this charger remains plugged in for 22 hours without use, it results in an unnecessary expense of R18 per month—simply for not unplugging it.
IOL
