UK households are being warned to avoid running their dishwasher at certain times of the day to reduce their energy bills.

       Dishwashers are one of the most used home appliances, along with washing machines, and account for around 8% of electricity bills, costing up to ￡70 a year on average to run, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

       This might not sound like a huge amount but year-on-year these costs soon start to add up, and with higher energy bills on the horizon when Ofgem’s new price cap takes effect in April, it’s worth making small savings wherever you can.

       Energy experts recommend avoiding running your dishwasher between 4pm and 9pm as these are peak hours, so energy prices are typically higher due to high demand.

       Energy companies tend to charge more per unit of electricity during these peak hours so if you want to make some savings, it is best to run your dishwasher either early in the morning or late at night when demand is lower.

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       Llewellyn Kinch, energy expert at MakeMyHouseGreen, explains: “Energy prices tend to spike between 4 pm and 9 pm when households are cooking dinner, watching TV, and generally using more appliances. Avoid using your dishwasher during these hours to save money.

       “Using your dishwasher during off-peak hours can result in substantial savings over time. Many energy providers in the UK have peak pricing structures, so if you’re using your appliances during those high-demand times, you could be paying far more than you need to.

       Off-peak hours can vary depending on who your energy provider is, but typically these will fall before 7am or after 10pm.

       Kinch adds: “One of the best times to run your dishwasher is after 10pm when electricity demand has significantly decreased. Many UK energy providers offer Time-of-Use (TOU) tariffs, meaning that energy prices drop late at night, making it an ideal time for energy-intensive appliances.

       “For those who prefer to get things done in the morning, the period before 7am also falls within off-peak hours. Running your dishwasher early allows you to avoid the morning energy rush, helping to lower your energy costs.”

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       By using appliances outside of peak periods you can take advantage of cheaper energy rates if you're on an ‘agile tariff’. These tariffs automatically go up and down based on energy usage patterns, so if you’re able to switch your usage to off-peak hours, you can make big savings as energy prices are lower at these times of day.

       Such tariffs are offered by energy companies to encourage people to cut their usage during peak times, thereby lowering demand on the grid and helping it to run more smoothly.

       It’s worth checking on your energy provider’s website to check when off-peak hours are and remember if you’re not on an agile tariff then these dynamic time price changes won’t affect you. You can check with your supplier to make sure you know what tariff you’re on and how it works.

       But timing isn’t the only factor affecting your energy costs as there are other common habits that could be driving up your bills unnecessarily.

       Running half loads is inefficient as dishwashers use the same amount of water and energy regardless of the load size, so be sure to always run a full load to maximise efficiency.

       It’s also worth running your dishwasher on eco mode if it has one as, while the setting takes a little longer, it saves significant amounts of energy by using less water and lower temperatures.