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How do you know which appliances are using the most electricity? Which ones need to be replaced or…

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Apr 01, 2022

How to Tell What Appliances Are Using the Most Electricity

How do you know which appliances are using the most electricity? Which ones need to be replaced or unplugged? Maybe your plugs aren't all they're cracked up to be, and you're throwing money away in energy costs. Counting up the electricity costs can be time-consuming and often leads to disputes over who is using what. Mr. Electric has electricians who can perform any necessary repairs or upgrades.

Don't waste another cent on electrical bills. According to Mr. Electric, many people spend hundreds of dollars on energy costs due to energy wasted on appliances that seem to have short circuits and faulty wiring.

The guys were super nice, I loved that they did the work immediately. Also after having a discussion with them about the static electricity from a lightenimg strike we had and it fried everything they suggested a surge protector to keep that from happening again. So we did that.

Dawn Boyd

Scheduled an appointment with Mr Electric of Fort Worth and received a call  they were able to show up early and had Dylan show up on time stocked with a full truck. He was able to diagnosis the issue quickly and restore my power to a few plugs that were causing the breakers to trip continuously. Dylan was very knowledgable, clearly explained the cause and how he would fix the issue, and addressed all concerns that we had. He was replaced two breakers and installed 2 new outlets along with diagnosing the problem in about an hour. Very quick and so far seems to have resolved our electrical issue. Would definitely recommend Mr Electric of Fort Worth!

Jacob Felderhoff

Dylan was so nice and always on time. Very qualified and explained everything he needed to do in a way I understood. My older house required an outside panel so I had a lot of work but Dylan and his helper worked together very well and finished on time so I was not out of power more than needed. Everything looked and worked great when done. I don't know how he was able to replace the cracked power pole and wiring on my roof so quickly and beautifully. I am very, very impressed with his skill level and would request him for any future work. The company is very well organized and office contact was a pleasure to work with(which is rare since these positions are usually underpaid)so reward her well, she is the "door" to your organization. She and Dylan sealed my deal!

Sherry Christian

Cody was professional, knowledgeable, and was able to provide me with a quick diagnosis pertaining to a wiring issue in one of my rooms. He gave me the price for the repair/modification and fixed the issue all in less than an hour. Thanks Cody!

Kevin Williams

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Do Appliances Use Electricity When Plugged in But Turned Off?

The simple answer: yes. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, "phantom power" is real, and it refers to electricity devices used when plugged in but not on or not performing their primary function.

Though these appliances aren't running, they're still draining energy. For example, a TV that's plugged in but turned off uses about 1 watt of power, and a DVD player that's turned off can use about 2 watts of power, according to the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

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We provide reliable, professional electrical services backed by licensed electricians and upfront pricing. Our team is committed to safety, quality workmanship, and on-time service for every job. With trusted local expertise and customer-first care, we deliver solutions you can count on.

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The NRDC estimates that appliances plugged in but turned off account for approximately 10 percent of our household energy bills which is the equivalent of one or two months' worth of electricity each year for an average family. The average home has about 40 products constantly draining power, at a total cost of $100 per year.

Top 10 Appliances That Use the Most Electricity

To figure out which appliances use the most electricity, you need to measure the energy they consume. That can be done with a plug-in power meter, and these devices cost as little as $20 and can tell you how many kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity an appliance uses.

You'll also need to know your utility's rate for electricity (usually in cents per kWh). Multiply that by the number of kWh used by an appliance, and you'll see how much it costs per day, week, month, or year. The appliances that consume the most electricity are usually the largest ones.

Here is a list of the top 10:

  • Water heater
  • Dryer
  • Furnace blower
  • Electric oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Lighting
  • Microwave oven
  • Computer/TV/games console
  • Washing machine
  • Dishwasher

How to Measure Electricity Used by an Appliance

The first step to determining how much electricity an appliance uses is to measure its usage. Luckily, this is not as difficult as it sounds.

The simplest method is to use a device called a Kill-a-Watt meter. These meters are available at hardware stores for about $20. Once connected to an outlet, the meter can measure the amount of electricity used by whatever appliance is plugged into it.

The meter displays the following information:

  • Volts: The voltage of your outlet. It should be around 100-120 volts for standard outlets in North America (220V for some appliances).
  • Watts: The amount of power consumed by the appliance each second, and this number is displayed continuously and can be read directly from the screen.
  • Watt-hours: The total energy used over time, most commonly over days or weeks. This is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), a unit that equals 1,000 watts used continuously for an hour (or 1 watt used continuously for 1,000 hours). This number can be reset each week by pressing a button on the device.

Turn to the Pros at Mr. Electric for Your Electricity Needs

With summer coming around the corner, it's essential to know how to save on electricity bills. Did you know that turning off your outdoor lights and setting thermostats lower can save you up to 20% on cooling and heating bills?

If you want to keep saving on your electric bill, Mr. Electric offers tips on making changes in your home while also offering useful products and solutions. Mr. Electric has licensed electricians to help you diagnose why your rates are higher than normal and offer cost-saving tips on new technologies!

Click here to learn more about Mr. Electric's products and services today!

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