The 9 ‘vampire devices’ you should plug out before you leave the house that are adding £147 to your energy bills

ENERGY bills are set to soar to their highest in three years this winter for millions of UK households. From October 1, a typical household on a standard tariff will be paying 4% more for their energy – £1,723 a year. Wifi routers are one of the biggest energy drainers in our homes Credit: Alamy Leaving your TV on standby can also add to your bills Credit: Getty – Contributor However, experts have warned that households could already be wasting almost £150 a year by making a simple mistake. Families are ignoring so-called “vampire devices” around their homes, and allowing these everyday gadgets to drain electricity while they’re not even being used. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! It takes minutes to fix – and it could save you a substantial amount on your annual bill. According to British Gas, wifi routers are the biggest culprits when it comes to wasting electricity. Most of us leave these devices switched on when we’re not home or sleeping, or even when we go away on holidays. But this could be adding up to £32.60 a year to your energy bill. Leaving the telly on standby can add up to £30.60 a year to your bill, and a set-top box (like a Sky box) can add £25. Leaving microwaves plugged in when you’re not using them can cost you up to £21.70 a year. Most read in Money Meanwhile, games consoles like a Playstation or Xbox can add £16.10, and desktop computers add £14.80. Smart speakers and home devices, like Amazon’s Alexa, can drain an extra £13 a year being left on while not being used. Larger devices like dishwashers and washing machines, which people don’t tend to plug out, cost less – £9.10 and £6.30 respectively. British Gas says that households could save £147 a year just by unplugging these devices while not in use. Marc Robson, energy expert at British Gas, says households should switch devices off at the mains rather than leaving them on standby overnight. He adds: “Try not to overcharge your mobile phone and laptop unnecessarily “As soon as your device is charged, try and get into the habit of unplugging it.” He also suggests getting a single extension lead for all your devices that you can easily switch off at night, or invest in a smart plug that you can control from your phone. Comment now