The personal finance expert has issued a warning to households as energy bills continue to soar with the onset of colder weather
Martin Lewis, the personal finance guru, has issued a stark warning about a ‘demon appliance’ that stands as the most power-hungry device in households and ought to be shunned wherever possible. Speaking on his BBC Radio 5 podcast previously, Mr Lewis shared crucial guidance as energy costs soar alongside the arrival of chillier conditions.
Recently figures revealed the news that families are heading into winter carrying a colossal £780 million debt burden to their energy providers – the steepest figure recorded in eight years, a Uswitch survey disclosed.
The comparison platform found that households owing money to their supplier has rocketed by 46% from 2.4 million last year to 3.5 million this year.
Mr Lewis identified the tumble dryer as a device requiring cautious use owing to its hefty operating expense of £1 per cycle.
He explained: “Do you know what the real ‘demon appliance’ is in most people’s houses – the one that you don’t want to use because it’s really expensive.
“Tumble dryers. You’re typically paying up to a quid per load so dry your clothes on an airer outside, to shorten the amount of time you’re using your tumble dryer, or avoid using it completely. Those who have dehumidifiers can take some of the moisture out of the air. It’s less wattage than a tumble dryer, so it can be more cost-effective.”
A live caller called Rob observed that his flat had developed dampness problems since he began air-drying his washing indoors.
He asked: “If I were to buy a dehumidifier, would it be cheaper than using the heating to keep the place dry?” Martin advised: “Dehumidifiers take water out of the air rather than use the heating and they’re much lower wattage appliances than standard heating. So if the dehumidifier works for you, it will definitely have lower electricity bills.”
One of the main issues is that radiators often heat areas where warmth quickly dissipates outdoors. During a previous appearance on a BBC Podcast, Mr Lewis suggested households should consider installing reflective panels behind radiators – redirecting warmth back into rooms instead of letting it seep through walls.
He elaborated: “A tip for you reflective panels behind radiators. Sheets of reflective material can be placed behind radiators. Crucially, this is on external wall radiators, so the heat doesn’t escape. If you don’t want to pay for those, then tin foil can work, although it doesn’t work quite as well.”
Currently, a 4 metre long roll of radiator heat reflector foil is available at Screwfix for £6.38 with a 15 per cent discount. He also offered more advice on radiators.
He clarified: “If you’ve got radiators in rooms that you’re not using, go and turn them off before you turn the heating on so you’re not wasting cash overheating empty spaces.
“Changing the flow rate on your boiler can cut gas bill by over 9% and you won’t notice the change.” Mr Lewis also cautioned that households should avoid using a ‘demon appliance’ wherever possible.
He explained: “Other general tips included: “Check your TV’s on a low energy setting too and walk around your house. Be a draft detector – what drafts can you spot as you walk around your house? And then try, if you can, to seal them up. “.
The Uswitch survey disclosed the typical household debt figure of £223 represents a 29% increase from last year’s £173.
The average bill payer held £128 in credit last year, but this has now plummeted to £98 – dropping below £100 for the first time since the energy crisis began. Families typically pay a set monthly amount that exceeds their summer usage to build up credit for covering pricier winter months.
However, more than two million low-income families – and 10 million homes nationwide – have no energy credit stored to tackle higher winter bills.
Amongst the 55% of families who maintain a credit balance, this has declined slightly from last autumn’s typical £222 to the current £214.
Latest figures from regulator Ofgem showed that customers owed energy firms over £4 billion, representing a rise of more than £750 million compared to the previous year. Ofgem’s debt figure represents the total amount customers owe their suppliers for unpaid bills, while Uswitch measures the current balance of a household’s energy account.
It has been revealed that one in six homes (16%) with a household income of less than £20,000 a year are already in debt to their energy supplier before winter, with indebted homes owing an average of £60.
Ben Gallizzi, energy spokesman at Uswitch, expressed his concern: “It’s deeply concerning to see that household energy debt has soared to an eight-year high, which suggests that many homes may face a bill shock soon as direct debit levels are updated.”
He further explained: “The cost of living squeeze and the end of many government support schemes means that households are getting less help than they used to, causing many to fall behind.”
Gallizzi also offered advice for the upcoming winter months: “Households use more energy over the winter, so for those paying via direct debit it’s ideal to have a cushion of about two months’ worth of energy credit at this point in the year.”
He concluded by urging those struggling to reach out: “If your energy account is going into debt, or you are behind on your bill payments, speak to your supplier as soon as possible.”
