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17 Sept 2025

Worst appliances adding hundreds to your electricity bill might not be the ones you expect

The most expensive home appliance to run has finally been confirmed – and it’s not the tumble dryer

Worst appliances adding hundreds to your electricity bill might not be the ones you expect

Worst appliances adding hundreds to your electricity bill might not be the ones you expect

The most expensive household appliances to run have been revealed, and the worst culprits might not be what you think.

New analysis by Irish energy provider Energia has revealed the 20 most common household appliances in Irish homes, to find out which one is racking up the highest energy usage

It may be time to say goodbye to those long, leisurely morning showers with the electric shower revealed as the appliance that uses the most energy. Taking a ten-minute shower could cost you up to €0.59 per day, with a total running cost of €3.39 per hour.

In second place, the immersion heater remains one of the most expensive appliances to run in the home with one hour of use costing up to €1.13. In third place is the electric heater, with a cost of up to €0.94 an hour. In joint third place is the tumble dryer with a one-hour cycle also costing up to €0.94.

Rounding out the top five, the hair dryer costs up to €0.81 per hour in running costs, with an average 20-minute use costing €0.27.

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Energy expert at Energia Claire Love, commenting on the analysis said, “most of us don’t think twice about taking that extra-long hot shower on a cold morning, but some of our energy habits are costing us.

"Aside from the usual suspects of tumble dryers and dishwashers, even using the oven for an hour can add up over time, so looking at ways you can cut that time down is crucial.

"Not only can we all be more vigilant with our energy usage, but it’s important we track what's contributing to our consumption by keeping an eye on the energy insights available with a smart plan.”

The full list of the most costly home appliances is as follows:

Most Costly Home Appliances

Rank Appliance Average Power  (Watts) Cost per hour Typical Usage Typical Usage Cost
1 Electric Shower 9000 €3.39 10 minutes of use €0.56
2 Immersion Heater 3000 €1.13 2 hours of use to heat tank €2.26
3 Electric Heater 2500 €0.94 1 hour of use €0.94
4 Tumble Dryer 2500 €0.94 1 cycle (1 hour of use) €0.94
5 Oven 2150 €0.81 20 minutes of use €0.27
6 Hair Dryer 2150 €0.81 1 hour of use €0.81
7 Kettle 2100 €0.79 12 minutes use (boiled 4 times per day) €0.16
8 Air Fryer 1500 €0.56 30 minutes of use €0.28
9 Coffee Pod Machine 1400 €0.53 3 minutes (3 coffees per day) €0.03
10 Dishwasher 1350 €0.51 1 cycle (1 hour of use) €0.51
11 Toaster 1300 €0.49 10 minutes of use €0.08
12 Microwave 1150 €0.43 15 minutes of use €0.11
13 Iron 1000 €0.38 1 hour of use €0.38
14 Vacuum Cleaner 675 €0.25 30 minutes of use €0.13
15 Washing Machine 500 €0.19 1 cycle (1 hour of use) €0.19
16 Playstation 5 180 €0.07 2 hours of use €0.14
17 Television (55" LED) 116 €0.04 4 hours of use €0.17
18 Laptop 75 €0.03 8 hours use - One day working from home €0.23
19 American Fridge/Freezer 60 €0.02 24 hours of use €0.54
20 Light Bulb (Traditional) 60 €0.02 6 hours of use €0.14

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