People only just realising letter on washing machine is worth £528

Energy bills are going up another 10 percent this winter and home owners will be turning to anything they can to cut costs and stop bills from spiralling up again.

And one way to reduce your bills is to pay attention to how much energy your key appliances – like washing machines, dishwashers and fridges – are actually using.

White goods maker Beko is urging households to check their appliances for a letter on the side which could make a huge difference to your bills each year – in fact that single letter could save £528 a year.

That’s perfect timing given that Ofgem has priced in a 10 percent bills increase from October, a £194 increase.

Every washing machine – indeed, every major electrical appliance from TVs to ovens – now comes with an energy rating.

That rating, typically found on the left or right hand side of your appliance, is typically found on a sticker on the side of your machine.

The sticker will contain a letter ranging from A to G or A to D, but confusingly, the letter system on a washing machine is completely different from the letter system on an oven.

Beko said: “Your energy rating can typically be found on the left- or right-hand side of your appliance – on a washing machine, it is found on the body at the side. These ratings will let you know how efficient they are. It is important to note that not all energy ratings are the same.

“A washing machine at a B grade would be more efficient than a B oven, for example, as a washing machine’s ratings run from A to G, whereas an oven’s energy rating will run from A+++ to D. Knowing this difference can save you from buying what you believe to be an energy-efficient product, which isn’t.

Energy ratings for washing machines are calculated for 100 runs – this is usually calculated by comparing models used in eco-mode. For the most efficient model, you’ll want a washing machine with a B or higher on the energy rating label. These will be the models that will use the least water and energy to run – saving you money with each laundry load.

The average washing machine uses approximately 0.4-1.4 kWh per laundry run. This will differ depending on the size of your washing machine, as well as what settings and pre-programmed cycles you decide to use.

Salah Sun, Head of Product Marketing at Beko Plc UK & Ireland, says: “To get the most out of your washing machine, you’ll want to make sure you’re using the right cycle for what you need.

“You won’t always need the highest temperature setting, which is ideal for heavily soiled items, you might be able to use a cooler temperature (and less energy) if you separate your laundry correctly.

“The right machine for you can save you money too, with an A-rated machine saving you up to £528 across its lifetime.”