How irons, ovens and air fryers quietly push up your power bill
Small everyday appliances, not just the fridge or AC, can add up on your electricity bill depending on their wattage and how long they run
When a household's electricity bill suddenly rises, the fridge, fan or air conditioner is usually blamed first. But many small everyday appliances also contribute a significant share to the bill. How many units an appliance consumes depends on its power rating, how long it runs and how often it is used. So instead of just counting how many appliances are in the house, it is more important to check how long each one stays switched on.
An electric iron used for clothes does not run for very long each day, but its power rating is quite high. So if a lot of ironing is done daily, power consumption can rise. Electric ovens, air fryers and some kitchen appliances also run on relatively high power. Even though an air fryer may be used for a short time, frequent use can show up on the bill.
In a washing machine, if there is a hot water function along with the motor, power consumption increases further. Mixers and grinders also have high power ratings, but since they are used for only a few minutes at a time, their overall electricity cost stays relatively low. This shows that how long an appliance runs is the key factor.
Televisions and laptops have lower power ratings than an iron or oven. But if a television is kept on for many hours every day, monthly consumption goes up. The power cost per use of appliances like laptops, mobile chargers and headphones is relatively low. Even so, it is better to avoid the habit of keeping many devices constantly plugged in for charging.
Vacuum cleaners, electric egg boilers, vaping devices, massage machines and electric mosquito bats are generally used for shorter durations. So their overall power consumption depends on individual usage habits. To find out why a bill is rising, both the wattage of each appliance in the house and how long it runs need to be checked.
To cut the electricity bill, it helps to switch off the socket and plug after using an appliance, avoid leaving chargers plugged in when not needed, and use high power appliances only when necessary. Checking the wattage rating written on an appliance and estimating how long it is used each day makes it easier to identify exactly which appliance is consuming the most electricity.
