Appliance expert Paul Hanley of HomeHow.co.uk is urging consumers to rethink the potential risks of running appliances overnight. While many consumers turn to running appliances during the nighttime in order to save money, this can introduce a number of safety risks, in addition to not always being an effective way to save.
It’s thought that around 54% of house fires are caused by domestic appliances. In England last year, there were more than 1,100 electrical fires caused by white goods, including washing machines and tumble dryers. Although fire poses the greatest danger, running appliances at night can also risk significant water damage to your home if your washing machine or dishwasher develops a plumbing leak.
Reducing the Risks
The best way to protect yourself from an appliance-related fire is to avoid running your appliances overnight and when you’re out of the house.
You can also reduce the risks associated with faulty electrical appliances by following these fire safety measures:
- Get smoke alarms fitted on every floor of your home and test them monthly.
- Smoke alarm sensors can degrade over time. So, replace smoke alarms that are over 10 years old.
- Make sure your consumer unit is fitted with RCDs to help protect against electrical faults and fire.
- Get an electrical safety check or Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) done every 10 years to ensure your home’s wiring is up to scratch.
- Carry out your own visual inspections of appliances by looking for signs of wear, damage and burn marks on cables and plugs. If you spot any of these, stop using the appliance and get it replaced or professionally repaired.
- Maintain your appliances, paying particular attention to the filters on tumble dryers.
- When you buy a new appliance, go online and register it. This enables the manufacturer to contact you directly should the item be recalled.
- Never use an appliance that’s making unusual sounds or smells of burning.
- Portable heaters do pose a fire risk, so never leave them running overnight.
Why running appliances at night won’t always save you money
The most common reason for households running appliances at night is to save money. However, electricity isn’t always cheaper at night. Some tariffs, such as Economy 10 and selected Smart tariffs, offer cheaper electricity overnight, but most don’t. So, it’s worth checking with your energy supplier.
What You Should Do Instead
There are tariffs and off-peak energy schemes that offer cheaper electricity on Sundays and during special events rather than overnight. So, if you’re looking to save money on your bills, it might be worth shopping around to see what you’re eligible for. To take advantage of cheaper tariffs, you’ll usually need a smart meter that’s set up to send your usage data every 30 minutes. Another way to reduce the amount of energy your appliances use is to make sure you’re utilizing smart functions and running the most efficient programs. For instance, smart washing machines use sensors and AI to work out the most effective way to wash your clothes – enabling you to save water and electricity. But even if you don’t have a smart washing machine, you can save money by using a slower program or eco wash, as quick cycles tend to be the most power-hungry.
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