By Phoebe Jobling

Copyright manchestereveningnews

UK households could save money on their energy bills by running their washing machines at certain times of the day, an electrician has shared. As we head into autumn and winter, the colder weather means people will be spending more time indoors, using their heating and household appliances which adds to their household bills. Brits are constantly looking for ways to keep costs down, and now an electrician has suggested that those on a particular type of tariff can wash their clothes in off-peak hours to reduce bills. “Washing machines use a lot of energy because they need to heat water and power the spin cycle. If you are on an Economy 7 or Economy 10 tariff, you might be able to save by using your machine during off-peak hours,” says James Harrison, electrician at Fusion Electrical. Sign up to our Manchester property newsletter here Economy 7 tariffs give cheaper electricity for seven hours overnight, usually between 11pm and 6am in winter, or midnight and 7am in summer. Economy 10 offers ten cheaper hours spread between night, afternoon and evening. “If you can shift your washing to these off-peak periods, you could save money. But it depends on your supplier and whether the tariff is right for your home,” Harrison said. “Economy 7 only works if you can move a good portion of your energy use to overnight. It is not ideal for households that mainly use power in the day. “Economy 10 is more flexible, but fewer suppliers offer it, so not everyone will have the option.” If you are not on an economy tariff, the savings are less clear. Standard tariffs charge a flat rate, but avoiding peak demand times in the late afternoon and early evening could still help reduce strain on the grid. “Even without a special tariff, running appliances at quieter times might help the system overall. And keeping your machine in good condition will stop it from using more energy than it needs,” Harrison added. Other practical steps to reduce the output from your washing machine: Clean the filter regularly so the machine does not have to work harder. Switch to cold rinses, which clean just as well but use less energy. Always run full loads to get the most out of each cycle. “These little changes could make a noticeable difference to your bills over the year,” Harrison said. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE