A home tech exchange that saves on your utility bills

A whisper, but as Boris said this week, a proper boiler can really save money.

So whether you’re thinking of replacing your old microwave or just want a kettle that beeps when the tea is ready, these smart moves can save you money in the long run.

From ovens to fryers, here are some smart alternatives to help lower your utility bills.

try air frying

Air fryers are becoming popular these days, and for good reason. Essentially an affordable small oven with a heating element and fan that delivers crisp, juicy results at lower temperatures and shorter cook times than traditional ovens. Not only that, but it is much more efficient and cheaper to operate.

Exact costs vary by equipment and rate, but when you factor in the preheat time, cook time, and higher temperatures required by a standard oven, it can run about twice as long as a modest air fryer.

A recent study by Iceland and energy provider Utilita found that, in normal use, the average air fryer only costs 14 pence a day (or £52.74 a year). Considering the annual cost of electric and gas cookers is £316 and £264 respectively, it may be time to start cooking your weekly steaks in your trusty fryer.

The new Double Basket Air Fryer comes with two separate baskets to cook different foods at the same time, allowing you to cook twice as much at the same time.

Available at Lakeland for £139.99.

whistle a little

If you have a gas stove, consider switching from an electric kettle to a traditional stovetop alternative. The large price difference between gas and electricity means you can save extra money.

An engineer and academic demonstrated this on his TikTok account (username: dinosaurdannyx) when he looked at the energy/cost difference between the cost of boiling water in a gas boiler and a conventional electric boiler.

The bottom line is that the rice cooker uses more energy, but costs about half the price (1.99 pence vs. 3.94 pence) due to lower gas prices. Boris called savers yesterday to buy a new electric boiler. Also, if you’re using supplements, be sure to measure the amount of water you need, as boiling is less energy efficient.

At Amazon, you can pick up a sleek stainless steel gray marble effect kettle with a built-in whistle.

But if you’re metering your water usage with a kettle, Dualit’s Classic Kettle features a super-fast 3KW element for fast boiling.

Buy from Dualit for £134.95.

(DO NOT) REMOVE THE PLUG

Investing in a variety of energy-monitoring smart plugs is a great way to keep tabs on how much power your most-used devices use, even when they’re on standby.

Not only is this a great way to learn where you can save money, but it’s also a great way to turn off automatically with a simple voice assistant command. And if you’re the type to worry about whether or not you’ve lost your straightener, being able to check them remotely using the app is a godsend.

With TP-Link’s Tapo Smart Plug, you can remotely control your devices to turn them on and off whenever you want, and see how much power each device is using with one convenient app.

Purchased from Amazon for £9.49.

cook with gas

If you’re stuck with an electric stove, you have one of the most expensive kitchen appliances you can get.

An easy-to-replace gas cylinder, just like the one you use at camp. You may have already called the shack.

Even better, if you have a gas barbecue in your garden, give it a new life as an outdoor oven.

For just £15, you can get a portable gas camp stove that’s small enough to fit in a cupboard when not in use and powerful enough to cook up a storm. .

Available at Halfords for £15.

ride the waves

There’s more to microwaves than just reheating disappointing dishes and ready meals. Used correctly, it’s a great kitchen tool in its own right, and there are plenty of delicious recipes you can use in your microwave.

Some staples include microwavable rice and steamed vegetables, both of which are incredibly quick and easy to prepare. A Utilita study found that microwave ovens are cheaper than deep fryers, costing around 8 cents per day, or an average of £30.03 per year.

The Russell Hobbs microwave has a sleek, minimalist design while providing all the microwave functionality you need. 800W is enough to handle whatever you throw at it

Buy from Amazon for £69.99.

wash wisely

If your washing machine has recently run out of steam, you can replace it with a more spacious and efficient model. The new Samsung Series 5 may seem expensive at first, but its massive 11kg capacity means you can do more laundry at once with less water and energy.

You can also smartly wash your clothes during peak hours from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am (a smart washing machine with a timer function is great for this). This helps keep costs even lower. If your clothes are not very dirty, you can also wash them at 30°C to save energy and load them backwards to maximize the heat retained from front loading.

Buy from Samsung for £529.

dry my tears

Dryers are not energy efficient appliances, but a few tricks can help. When buying a car, check the energy rating from A+++ to G. Help your current machine by protecting your air filter from lint and allowing your washing machine to handle as much water as possible.

Shortening additional dehydration cycles saves time in the dryer. Use a lid to prevent small items from getting lost, spread clothes out to dry faster, and place the dryer in a well-ventilated room.

Drying your clothes is not only labor intensive but also expensive, but the new Miele TEF765 WP Ecospeed Green Performance 8kg tumble dryer cuts drying time by 40 minutes at full load and kills 99% of all bacteria.

Available from Miele from around £999.

This article contains affiliate links. We receive a small commission for purchases made through one of these links, but this does not affect our professional opinion.

For tips and tricks to save money, talk about cash, and alerts on deals and discounts, join the Money Pot Facebook group.