Martin Lewis says turn off ‘demon appliance’ responsible for soaring bills

Personal finance expert warned Brits about the the biggest energy guzzler in the home which should be avoided at all costs

Martin Lewis, the money -saving guru, has issued a stark warning about a ‘demon appliance’ that ranks as the most power-hungry device in households and ought to be shunned wherever possible.

On his BBC Radio 5 podcast, Mr Lewis previously shared guidance as energy costs soar with the arrival of chillier conditions. This week, findings emerged showing that families are heading into winter carrying an enormous debt of £780 million to their energy providers – the steepest figure in eight years, based on a Uswitch survey.

The comparison website disclosed that households owing money to their supplier has rocketed by 46% from 2.4 million last year to 3.5 million this year.

Mr Lewis identified the tumble dryer as a device to employ cautiously owing to its steep operating expense of £1 per cycle.

He declared: “Do you know what the real ‘demon appliance’ is in most people’s houses – the one that you don’t want to use because it’s really expensive.

“Tumble dryers. You’re typically paying up to a quid per load so dry your clothes on an airer outside, to shorten the amount of time you’re using your tumble dryer, or avoid using it completely. Those who have dehumidifiers can take some of the moisture out of the air. It’s less wattage than a tumble dryer, so it can be more cost-effective.”

A live caller called Rob observed that his flat had developed dampness since he began drying his washing indoors.

He asked: “If I were to buy a dehumidifier, would it be cheaper than using the heating to keep the place dry?” Martin replied: “Dehumidifiers take water out of the air rather than use the heating and they’re much lower wattage appliances than standard heating. So if the dehumidifier works for you, it will definitely have lower electricity bills.”

A major issue is that radiators frequently warm areas where heat rapidly disappears outside. During a previous BBC Podcast slot, Mr Lewis recommended that homes should consider fitting reflective panels behind radiators – bouncing warmth back into rooms rather than letting it leak through walls.

He said: “A tip for you: reflective panels behind radiators. Sheets of reflective material can be placed behind radiators. Crucially, this is on external wall radiators, so the heat doesn’t escape. If you don’t want to pay for those, then tin foil can work, although it doesn’t work quite as well.”

Currently, a 4 metre long roll of the radiator heat reflector foil is on offer at Screwfix for £6.38 with a 15 per cent discount. He also shared further radiator guidance.

He said: “If you’ve got radiators in rooms that you’re not using, go and turn them off before you turn the heating on so you’re not wasting cash overheating empty spaces.

“Changing the flow rate on your boiler can cut gas bill by over 9% and you won’t notice the change.”

Mr Lewis also cautioned that households should avoid using a ‘demon appliance’ whenever possible. He explained: “Other general tips included: “Check your TV’s on a low energy setting too and walk around your house.

“Be a draft detector – what drafts can you spot as you walk around your house? And then try, if you can, to seal them up. “.

The Uswitch survey disclosed that the typical household debt figure of £223 represents a 29% rise from last year’s £173. The average bill payer held £128 in credit last year, but this has now dropped to £98 – falling below £100 for the first time since the energy crisis began.

Families typically pay a fixed monthly amount that surpasses their summer consumption to build up credit for covering more expensive winter months. However, more than two million low-income families – and 10 million homes across the country – have no energy credit stored to manage higher winter bills.

Amongst the 55% of families who maintain a credit balance, this has declined slightly from last autumn’s typical £222 to the current £214. Recent data from regulator Ofgem showed that customers owed energy companies over £4 billion, marking an increase of more than £750 million compared to the previous year.

Ofgem’s debt figure represents the total amount customers owe their suppliers for unpaid bills, while Uswitch measures the current balance of a household’s energy account. Shockingly, one in six homes (16%) with a household income of less than £20,000 a year are already in debt to their energy supplier before winter, with indebted homes owing an average of £60.

Ben Gallizzi, energy spokesman at Uswitch, expressed his concern: “It’s deeply concerning to see that household energy debt has soared to an eight-year high, which suggests that many homes may face a bill shock soon as direct debit levels are updated.”

He further elaborated: “The cost of living squeeze and the end of many government support schemes means that households are getting less help than they used to, causing many to fall behind.”

Gallizzi also offered advice for the upcoming winter months: “Households use more energy over the winter, so for those paying via direct debit it’s ideal to have a cushion of about two months’ worth of energy credit at this point in the year.He concluded by encouraging those struggling to seek help: “If your energy account is going into debt, or you are behind on your bill payments, speak to your supplier as soon as possible. “.