Vampire appliances could be driving up your energy bills | Personal Finance | Finance

Everyday devices could be driving up your energy bills in the background without you realising.

So called “vampire appliances” could be eating away at your bank account by sucking up power even when they’re switched off – adding over £100 to your yearly bill when added together.

Household staples like the TV could cost you around £5 – 10 a year in wasted energy depending on the model when left on standby and gaming consoles can can add up to £8 annually just sitting idle.

Stephen Day, a Home Energy Expert and Heating Engineer at iHeat, said: “Most people have no idea that TVs, gaming consoles, and even kitchen appliances keep drawing power when they’re not in use. That little red standby light on your TV or the digital clock on a microwave – it seems harmless, right? But over a year, it adds up fast.

“It’s not just about one device, it’s the fact that you’ve got multiple appliances doing this, all day, every day. That’s where the real cost comes in.”

To show just how much this adds up, iHeat have put together a breakdown of the most common vampire appliances and their costs:

(Based on Ofgem’s April 2025 UK electricity rate of 27.03p per kWh)

If a homeowner has these electrical appliances in multiples in their household, the cost quickly adds up over a year – easily reaching over £100.

Fortunately Mr Day assures that a few small changes can save you serious money, he said: “Start with the basics – switch off appliances at the socket when you’re not using them, and unplug chargers once your devices are fully charged, smart plugs or timers can make life easier by cutting off power to devices when you don’t need them.

“Most TVs and gaming consoles now have eco-modes. It takes two minutes to set them up, and you could save a decent chunk over the year.”

Upgrading to more energy-efficient appliances is another win. Energy-saving light bulbs, low-power TVs, and modern smart home devices designed with efficiency in mind can cut passive energy use without you even noticing.

“While replacing an old TV or fridge might seem pricey,” Day says, “over time, the savings on your energy bill will more than make up for it.”

“Energy prices aren’t going down anytime soon,” Day says. “But small changes – like turning off a few appliances at the socket or using a smart plug – really do add up over the year. It’s easy money.”