Holidaymakers warned of 'vampire appliances' you should always turn off before you leave

Summer holiday season is finally here, and if you've got an exciting trip to look forward to, it's likely that you want everything at home to run as smoothly as possible while you're gone.

But in the midst of all the excitement, packing and making plans, it can be easy to forget certain things - like turning your appliances off at the wall.

This can sometimes feel like a fairly pointless task, as we often don’t think about putting things such as the TV or coffee machine off standby while at home. But according to experts, forgetting to do this before a holiday can be a potentially pricey mistake.

Certain things, like the fridge and freezer, should never be turned off at the wall as this can pose a significant health and safety risk.

However, Ian Palmer-Smith, appliance repair expert at Domestic & General, has named five of the biggest ‘vampire appliances’ that can add to your electricity bills if they’re kept on at the wall during a holiday.

He said: "These appliances continue to use power even when turned off and are sometimes referred to as ‘vampire devices’."

So, before you go off on holiday this year, quickly go around your home and check that the following devices have been switched off at the wall:

• Dishwasher

• Washing machine

• Oven

• Kettle

• Coffee machine

The reason that some of these use up so much power even when they’re not being used, such as the dishwasher and washing machine, is because they use a lot of energy due to their need for water.

Ian added: “They use more energy than others on standby as they need to be ready to heat water instantly, on demand.”

According to E.ON, the average household spends around £65 a year powering devices while they are on standby - so it's worth spending a bit of time making sure they are switched off.

Similarly, leaving your washing machine and dishwasher open before you go away anywhere - as these are some of the damp, moist areas in which mould is most likely to thrive.

Not only does this mean coming home from your holiday to an unpleasant smell lurking in your kitchen, it could also result in a hefty repair bill, which nobody wants to deal with after getting home from a potentially expensive trip.

But keeping these open and airing them out will help to ensure that this is avoided - meaning you can fully relax on holiday without worrying about returning home to chaos.

Finally, although you should never switch your fridge off at the wall, there’s one thing you should always remember to do before a holiday - and that’s clear it out, getting rid of any food that’s likely to rot. Putting things in the freezer is also a great way to save money and cut down on waste if you still want to use it.