What to look for in energy-efficient appliances

When an appliance comes to the end of its lifespan, it’s time for an upgrade. To many people, this outlay can end up being rather fruitful in the long run thanks to the savings that comes from the energy-efficiency of many modern appliances – making them cheaper to run.

On top of that, it’s helping to reduce the load on our environment by reducing the amount of emissions that are contributing to global warming. But while there were only a few eco-friendly options for appliances in the past, today’s offerings are far more plentiful. Many appliances now lay claim to energy-efficiency but, as with all things, not all appliances are made alike.

Here at Repair Aid, we work with all manner of appliances everyday so we’d like to think we know a thing or two (or three) about them. Here is our guide for what you should look for in an energy-efficient appliance.

Follow the labels

The first method is to have a look at the labels in shop room floors or consult the online documentation of appliances you’ve got your eye on. In the UK, appliances such as fridges/freezers and dishwashers are rated from A to G in efficiency – with A being the highest one – whereas the likes of ovens are rated from A+++ to D.

The rating is made relative to the energy usage of an appliance compared to others around it. The higher the rating, the more energy efficient it is going to be.

Calculate the costs

As we said, appliances with high energy efficiency ratings are not unique today so you have to go a bit further than just the labels. Another method is to think about the cost of the appliance. We don’t just mean the initial cost – we mean the cost of your energy bills.

While you may save £100 by selecting one appliance over another, that appliance may end up costing you that extra £100 saved by consuming that much more energy than the slightly more expensive option. And as appliances generally last between 10 to 20 years, that £100 saved could be a £500 or even a £1,000 loss over the course of its lifetime.

Enquire for statistics from the seller or the manufacturer, or consult consumer watchdog websites – such as Which? – that may have put statistics together on the average cost of many appliances from major brands.

Look into smart appliances

Smart appliances are generally considered far more energy efficient due to being connected to a smart electric meter that will help manage your energy consumption by using electricity at off-peak hours. Often these systems use energy in clever ways to reduce the cost of your bills.

As long as you can be flexible, and you can afford the initial outlay of converting to a smart meter system, this could provide you with long-term savings on your energy bills. You may also be able to find savings when buying smart appliances from the same brand/manufacturer, or find a deal for a suite of smart appliances plus the smart system.

Choose the right appliance for the job

Sometimes we can over-compensate when it comes to picking the right size of appliance. We think bigger can be better, but the only thing that will be more substantial that you’ll care about is the energy bill later on. That’s because you’ll constantly have half-full fridges, half-empty dishwashers and barely filled washing machines.

Unless your appliance has smart capabilities in order to reduce energy consumption on smaller loads, your appliance is likely to be burning energy for all that empty space. When it comes to appliances, a fuller fridge, washing machine or dishwasher is far more energy efficient. Larger models generally use more energy – no matter what the label says. So pick the right appliance to suit the needs of you or your family.

Check the feature list

Today’s appliances are brimming with all sorts of features unique to models and brands. Many of them are centred around saving you time and money. Eco programmes are a popular feature that can be universally found across appliances. In the case of washing machines and dishwashers, they generally use less water and use colder water that doesn’t require the water to be heated as much (if at all).

Miele, for example, is renowned for having dishwashers that are incredibly energy efficient through technological advances and settings – with its dishwashers nearly 50% more efficient when it comes to water consumption. As 2022’s water drought showed, water consumption is going to become an increasing concern in the UK as the years go by.

When it comes to fridges and freezers, you’ll also want eco features. Some models have a ‘holiday’ option which conserves energy while you are away for extended periods of time while preserving your food. Fast/Super Cool/Freeze modes can also help do this, too.

Lastly, some ovens also have such features – with eco modes designed to heat the food with a steady flow of heat rather than using that initial burst that takes up so much energy. Also, when it comes to hobs, induction hobs are considered amongst the most energy efficient types.

Repair Aid is here to help

Your energy efficient approach not only helps save the planet, it helps save money, too. So why not continue the saving by using Repair Aid? Not only do we have competitive rates, our installation jobs ensure you won’t need to worry about the installation being done wrong.

Please read on for our tips and advice to help you cut carbon and energy costs:

• Everything you need to know about smart washing machines
• Saving energy while using your washing machine
• Smart tumble dryers explained
• How to keep appliance energy usage down
• 20 Top Energy Efficient Laundry Tips
• How to save water while using a dishwasher
• The ultimate guide to saving on energy bills when cooking

Energy-efficient appliances are dependent on proper installation to ensure they are at their maximum efficiency and that’s exactly what you’ll get when dealing with Repair Aid’s engineering team.

Get in touch with us today on 020 7183 6944 to book your appliance installation with Repair Aid today.