How much does it cost to run a fridge?
FRIDGES are the essential part of any functioning kitchen.
But do you know how much running one could be adding to your energy bills?
With bills on the rise, it's useful to know how much your appliances cost to run if you want to cut back on costs.
And while heating is something you can turn off to save on money, your fridge should stay on 24 hours-a-day.
In fact, experts recommend you never turn off your fridge, as it could pose a serious risk to your health.
But how much exactly does it cost to run the kitchen appliance? We reveal below.
read more in kitchen devices
How much does it cost to run a fridge?
The exact cost of your fridge will depend on the model of fridge, the size, any special eco settings, how you use it and how much you pay for energy.
But according to price comparison site Uswitch, the average fridge uses 166 kWh of energy per year, working out at a cost of £47 a year under the current price cap.
That's 0.5p per hour.
From October, that cap is due to go up, despite intervention from the government to slow soaring prices.
That means the average cost of running a fridge from October will work out at £56 a year, or 0.6p an hour.
Most read in Money
However, your costs might be higher or lower depending on if you're on a fixed tariff and when you agreed it.
You can see how much you're paying by checking your bill.
How to save money on your fridge without turning it off
There are ways to make your fridge more energy-efficient without spending any money.
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch, offered top tips.
He said: "It’s recommended that you clean behind your fridge and freezer regularly to help keep them cool and work as efficiently as possible.
“Try not to keep the doors open for too long, especially on hot days, as this will cause the temperature to rise, meaning your appliance will need to work harder to cool back down.
“You should also aim to keep your fridge full if you can - it will use less energy when it’s well stocked. You can also fill it with water bottles, which will do the job just as well and give you lots of cool drinks when it’s hot."
On top of this, if you have a fridge freezer, you should defrost your freezer regularly to prevent a build up of ice.
Ice acts as an insulator which makes your fridge work harder and, in turn, more costly to run.
And you should try to keep your fridge at least 10cm from the wall as this will allow the coils at the back of the unit to work more efficiently.36
Top tips on other energy-sucking appliances
Fridges aren't the only expensive kitchen appliance - plenty of others sometimes fall under the radar.
We've listed a few to keep you on your toes:
Tumble dryers
Tests show tumble dryers are the most costly appliance to run in the kitchen.
They cost the average household a whopping £140 a year.
But if you have a heat pump model this price is slashed in half - as they are far more energy efficient.
In warmer weather, hang your clothes outside to dry if you can, and you could save money by using a heated clothes airer too.
Dishwasher
Dishwashers can be pricey when you tot up how much they cost over the course of a year.
They set the average household back £79.38.
The obvious way to save money is to only run your appliance when it is full - or go back to the good old fashioned sink.
If you are using a dishwasher, wait until you have a full load and use the eco-setting if you have one.
Oven
The average built-in electric oven costs £64.18 per year to run.
In general, electric ovens are more energy efficient and do better in cost-saving tests.
Turn off the oven a few minutes before food is ready, leaving it to continue cooking in what's left of the heat (check it's piping hot before eating though!)
You can also get away with not pre-heating the oven in most cases too.
Where possible, consider using the microwave instead as these are much cheaper to run.
Washing machine
Washing machines fall only just behind ovens in annual running costs at £63.25.
To save money - and the planet - wash your clothes at a lower temperature.
If your machine is only half full, you might want to hold off from hitting the start button too. Waiting until you have a full load of washing means you’re likely to do fewer cycles through the year.
Which? recently found that doing one big wash four times a week reduces energy consumption by 17% compared to someone doing three smaller washes every day.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Read More on The Sun
Here's how to use your radiators correctly so you're not wasting cash.
And here's a little-known boiler trick cut one woman's' bill by nearly £100 a month.