Too Hot! Is it expensive to run electric fans?

ih8stress

MoneySavingExpert.com update July 2018

For tips to keep cool in the heat read our story:

£1 sun cream, cheap fans... and put your duvet in the freezer: 16 MoneySaving tips to beat the heat

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Are electric fans expensive to run? I get too hot in this weather but am loathe to use a fan without knowing the running costs involved as I have to watch the pennies:)

Please don't blind me with science or mathematics - I just need to know the basics if possible, thanks:D

totalsolutions

Cheap as chips

penrhyn

You need to know whats watt, look on the rating plate on your fan, it will say something like 50 watts, same as a light bulb ( well an old one). Costs about 20p to run 24hours.

ih8stress

Thank you for the quick replies, totalsolutions and penrhyn.:T I've checked and it says 35 watts.

At least I won't get hot and bothered about the cost now:D

thor

Yes electric cold air fans are indeed cheap to run. Fan heaters on the other hand are the complete opposite. They are typically rated 2 or 3KW so can be up to 70 or 80 times more expensive; so watch out you don't use them too much during the colder seasons.

penrhyn

Yes but no but only if you turn on the heating element, most fan heaters have a cold setting.

Hadrian

Look on the base. My fan says 22watts, nothing really. All elec appliances have the wattage on them My 36" TV uses 210 watts, the tiddler TV 37 watts. The heaviest users by far are - kettles 2000/3000 watts! Vacuum cleaners - 1800/2200, irons, ovens and as 'they' say the fridge freezers. Nothing much you can do about the later but be aware of the rest. By the way can anyone suggest a way to inform my wife that to completely fill up the kettle each time she wants a cup of tea is a waste of money!

muffin_man_7

hadrian have you tried telling her that her cuppa will taste better if water boiled fresh also she will get her lovely cuppa faster if the kettle has less in it it will boil faster that worked with my kids fastest was the key h t h

cjard

Hadrian wrote: »

can anyone suggest a way to inform my wife that to completely fill up the kettle each time she wants a cup of tea is a waste of money!

Buy a heat-as-it-goes kettle?

Parchester

Your 35W fan will cost 0.35p per hour to run (based on electricity at 10p per unit), i.e. you can use it for 3 hours and it will only cost you a penny!

ih8stress

Had to look twice then, parchester - thought you meant 35p an hour at first:eek: