Buying Guides That Count the Running Cost
29 product roundups grouped by the job you need doing. Each one compares models on what they actually cost to buy and run, with live Amazon prices and a list of what we'd skip.
How we choose: research-based comparisons of manufacturers' published data, running costs at the current price cap, prices and owner reviews, not hands-on testing unless a guide says so. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. More on how we choose products.
5 guides
Keep warm for less
Every electric heater turns a kWh into the same kWh of heat, so the savings come from heating less space, for less time. These are the ones worth buying.
ProductsBest Electric Heater UK 2026: 10 Compared, and What They Really Cost to Run
The honest guide to electric heaters: why no electric heater is more efficient than any other, what each one actually costs per hour at the October 2026 price cap, and the 3p-an-hour option that beats all of them.
ProductsBest Electric Blanket UK 2026: 8 Blankets and Heated Throws Compared
The cheapest warmth you can buy: the best electric underblankets and heated throws, what they really cost per hour at the October 2026 price cap, and how to use them safely.
ProductsBest Thermal Curtains UK 2026: Do They Actually Save Energy?
Thermal curtains are worth £15 to £30 a year on a single-glazed house, not the £90+ you'll see claimed. Here are the best ones.
ProductsRadiator Booster Fans: Do They Work? (Honest UK Review)
A £38 fan that sits on your radiator and pushes warm air into the room. Here's whether it actually works.
ProductsRadiator Reflector Panels: Do They Work? (UK Guide)
A £10 product that saves £20 to £40 per year. Here's whether they're worth it for your home.
4 guides
Damp, condensation and drying washing
Winter is condensation season. Dehumidifiers judged on what they extract at real room temperatures, and the cheapest ways to dry a wash indoors.
ProductsBest Dehumidifier UK 2026: For Damp, Condensation and Mould, Compared on Real-Room Performance
8 dehumidifiers for damp, condensation and mould, judged on what they extract at real room temperatures, with a running cost calculator.
ProductsBest Dehumidifier for Drying Clothes UK 2026
A dehumidifier dries clothes faster than a heated airer alone but costs more per hour. Here's when it's worth it and which ones actually work.
ProductsBest Heated Clothes Airer UK 2026: Save vs Tumble Dryer
A heated airer with a cover costs about 32p a load. A condenser dryer costs 92p. Here are the best ones.
ProductsBest Heat Pump Tumble Dryer UK 2026
5 heat pump tumble dryers compared on real running cost, capacity, and noise. Includes the new A-G energy label explained and an honest take on whether they're worth the extra spend.
5 guides
Stop draughts and heat loss
The cheapest energy saving there is: most of it is DIY and goes in in an afternoon.
ProductsBest Draught Proofing Products UK 2026
The cheapest energy upgrade you can do yourself. About £100 spent, about £100 a year back.
ProductsBest Door Draught Excluders UK 2026: Under-Door & Frame Seals
The simplest way to stop cold air pouring in around your doors. About £60 to do the whole house.
ProductsWindow Insulation Film UK: Does It Work and Is It Worth It?
A £15 kit that borrows the idea behind double glazing. Here's what it's actually worth.
ProductsBest Pipe Insulation UK 2026: Lagging That Actually Fits
Uninsulated pipes waste heat. Pipe lagging costs pennies and takes minutes to fit.
ProductsBest Loft Insulation UK 2026: Materials, Thickness & DIY Guide
Everything you need for a DIY loft insulation project: the best rolls, tools, and materials.
3 guides
Power cuts, off-grid and portable solar
Backup power for a cut, a camping trip or a garden office, and the panels that keep it topped up.
ProductsBest Portable Power Station UK 2026: 8 Stations Compared for Camping, Site Work & Home Backup
8 power stations compared from £199 to £1,199. Interactive runtime calculator, sortable specs (including weight), and honest UK-specific picks for camping, tools, power cuts, and off-grid.
ProductsBest Portable Solar Panel UK 2026: Folding Panels and 12V Kits for Power Stations, Caravans and Sheds
Folding panels for power stations and fixed 12V kits for sheds, caravans and vans, compared at live UK prices, with a month-by-month output calculator for eight UK regions.
ProductsBest Solar Panel Accessories UK 2026
Protect your solar investment and keep panels performing at their peak with these accessories.
3 guides
Heating controls and heat pump kit
Thermostats, smart radiator valves and the radiators that let a heat pump run at a low, efficient flow temperature.
ProductsBest Smart Thermostats for Heat Pumps UK 2026
Most heat pump owners don't need a third-party thermostat. Here's how to tell, and which ones are worth it if you do.
ProductsBest Smart TRVs UK 2026: Room-by-Room Heating Control
Smart TRVs cut heating bills by 15-25% by not heating empty rooms. Here's which system to buy.
ProductsBest Radiators for Heat Pumps UK 2026
Heat pumps need bigger radiators. Here's exactly what to buy, how to size them, and whether your existing ones are good enough.
2 guides
See where your electricity goes
You can't cut what you can't see. Whole-house monitors and plugs that show what each appliance really costs.
ProductsBest Home Energy Monitors UK 2026
See exactly where your electricity goes, essential for monitoring heat pumps and solar panels.
ProductsBest Smart Plugs with Energy Monitoring UK 2026
6 smart plugs with energy monitoring compared, plus a standby power cost table showing exactly how much your appliances waste on standby.
4 guides
Kitchen and running costs
Where the energy angle is real (air fryers against the oven, kettle fill levels) and where it barely matters.
ProductsBest Air Fryer UK 2026: 11 Models Compared for Families, Couples & One-Person Homes
11 air fryers compared with live prices, plus a running-cost-vs-oven calculator, a searchable cooking-times tool, sizing advice, and honest picks for every household.
ProductsBest Energy-Efficient Kettle UK 2026: Why the Fill Line Matters More Than the Kettle
The honest guide to energy-efficient kettles: why a £10 kettle and an £84 kettle cost the same per litre, what a boil actually costs at the October 2026 price cap, and the four things that genuinely cut the bill.
ProductsBest Coffee Machine UK 2026: 10 Compared, From Pods to Bean-to-Cup
Ten coffee machines compared across bean-to-cup, pods, espresso and filter, with live prices and a cost calculator showing what each costs per cup and how fast it pays for itself.
ProductsBest Hot Tub UK 2026: 5 Lay-Z-Spas Compared, With Real Running Costs
Five Lay-Z-Spa hot tubs compared with live prices and a running-cost calculator that shows what each one actually costs to keep warm, plus sizing, siting and winter advice.
3 guides
Keep cool and breathe easy
For the hot weeks: portable air conditioners and fans compared on running cost, plus air purifiers for allergies and sealed modern homes.
ProductsBest Portable Air Conditioner UK 2026: Compared on Cooling, Noise & Running Cost
9 portable AC units compared on cooling, noise, and running cost, plus an interactive BTU calculator and honest advice on whether you even need one.
ProductsBest Tower Fan UK 2026: 8 Models Compared for Bedrooms, Sleep & Whole Rooms
8 tower fans compared on noise, running cost, and real-world performance. Includes an interactive fan vs portable AC cost calculator and honest advice on which fans to skip.
ProductsBest Air Purifier UK 2026: 7 HEPA Units Compared for Allergies, Pets & Sealed Modern Homes
7 HEPA air purifiers compared from £80 to £220 with a real cost calculator that includes filter replacements and electricity. Honest decision framework on whether you actually need one.