Are you planning to buy a vacuum cleaner for your living space? If so, you may wonder whether your monthly energy budget can handle that appliance.
If you are wondering how you can save money and energy, start by determining how much electricity an appliance uses. Most home appliances today use a small amount of power, but how about the vacuum cleaner?
Keep reading, and discover what is the electricity usage of a vacuum.
Electricity Usage of a Vacuum
A vacuum cleaner uses an air pump to such up debris, dust, and dirt from surfaces. This household cleaning appliance comes in various sizes, designs, and models.
If you plan to buy a regular-sized vacuum cleaner, it uses 500-3000 watts of energy. Or, if you prefer an average best-selling model, it uses around 1400 watts.
Vacuum cleaners have one critical design element: to pull less than 12 amps to function in the home reliably. That is because an average home circuit breaker has a 15 amps rate or 1800 watts (15A x 120V). This appliance is rated in Kilowatts (kW) or Watts (W).
A breaker can efficiently operate for a continuous load, which is more than three hours if it is limited to 80% of the peak load.
That peak load removes your worry about overheating and burning out. Then, 80% of 15 amps is approximately 12 amps.
Now, let’s discuss the number of watts that a vacuum cleaner uses. For instance, if you plug in 12 amps and 120 volts, the wattage is 1440. The formula used is Volts (V) x Amperes (I) = Watts (W).
If you want to know how much a vacuum cleaner costs to run, you can take a look at the power specification often printed on the user manual.
Below is a comparison table based on one hour a week at an 18.54p/kWh average rate for a unit of electricity.
| Power Rating | Per Hour | Per Year |
| 650w | 12.5p (650w) | ₤6.27 (33.8kWh) |
| 1000w (1kW) | 18.54p (1000w) | ₤9.64 (52kWh) |
| 1200w (1.2kW) | 22.25p (1200w) | ₤11.57 (62.4kWh) |
| 1300w (1.3kW) | 24.10p (1300w) | ₤12.53 (67.6kWh) |
| 1400w (1.4kW) | 25.96p (1400w) | ₤13.50 (72.8kWh) |
| 1800w (1.8kW) | 33.37p (1800w) | ₤17.35 (93.kWh) |
| 2000w (2kW) | 37.08p (2000w) | ₤19.28 (104kWh) |
| 2100w (2.1kW) | 38.93p (2100w) | ₤20.25 (109.2kWh) |
| 2200w (2.2kW) | 40.79p (2200w) | ₤21.21 (114.kWh) |
Meanwhile, an upright vacuum cleaner uses 800-1,400 watts of energy per hour, equivalent to .800 kWh – 1.44 kWh. If you use a canister vacuum cleaner, the energy consumption is about 1,440 watts per hour, equating to 1.44 kWh.
What Type of Energy Does a Vacuum Cleaner Use
Once you turn the vacuum cleaner on or plug it in, you complete an electrical circuit. The first type of power is electrical power.
After the electricity is moved to the motor within the appliance, it creates the second form of energy. When the motor is being started, kinetic energy takes place.
The motor starts a fan in the appliance, decreasing the air pressure within the appliance, which is another kinetic energy. Then, atmospheric pressure will force air through the carpet or other surfaces that causes the suction.
The friction in the fan and the motor causes another type of energy called heat energy.
Overall, three types of energy are involved in a vacuum cleaner: electrical energy, kinetic energy, and heat energy.
Do Vacuums Use a Lot of Electricity
The energy that a vacuum cleaner uses varies. The motor is the major driver of the appliance power usage. Most vacuum models come in motors that utilize 500-3000 watts of energy.
Beware that other factors may impact the appliance’s energy consumption.
For instance, a thick rug is difficult to vacuum because it requires more time and several passes, while a hardwood floor is much easier to handle.
Extra features like sensors and lights and the filtration system can also affect power use. In addition, the way to maintain the vacuum cleaner is another consideration.
How Much Does It Cost to Charge a Cordless Vacuum in the UK
The cost to charge a cordless vacuum in the UK may change depending on the vacuum cleaner you have. Don’t worry; your approximate costs are available for you.
- The average 1kW of electricity cost is 14 pence per hour.
- A normal cordless vacuum has between 100w and 300 w.
- A normal corded vacuum has between 600 w and 900 w.
Check out the comparison table below:
| 100 w | 250 w | 750 w | |
| 30 minutes usage | 0.7 p | 1.8 p | 5.4 p |
| 60 minutes usage | 1.4 p | 3.5 p | 10.5 p |
| Cost per month | 12 p (assuming 2 hours per week | 30 p (assuming 2 hours per week) | 90 p (assuming 2 hours per week |
| Cost per year | ₤1.46 (assuming 2 hours use per week) | ₤3.64 (assuming 2 hours use per week | ₤10.92 ( assuming 2 hours use per week) |
How much electricity does a vacuum use per hour?
On average, a vacuum cleaner uses 1.44 kWh (1,440 watts of energy per hour). If you pay about 10¢ per kWh for the electricity, it is equivalent to 14.4¢ to run the cleaning appliance for an hour.
If you use the appliance once a week for a year, it will cost you about ₤5.4 per year.
Conclusion
Knowing the energy consumption of a vacuum cleaner helps you determine whether it is practical to have it at home.
An average vacuum cleaner may not cost you much energy, but it is better to go for a durable model to ensure a longer lifespan.
Plus, you also need to consider proper maintenance of the appliance because a full bag or clogged filter can increase power use.
FAQ
How much power does a vacuum cleaner use?
Nearly all vacuum cleaners run about 1,000 watts. If you use the appliance for over an hour, it becomes one kilowatt-hour (kWh) or 1,000 watt-hours. If you vacuum with a 12 amp vacuum cleaner, it converts to 1.44 kWh or 1440 watts.
Can a vacuum cleaner electrocute you?
Yes. If you run the cleaning appliance over a pile of water, you are at risk of electrocution, and it may bring serious damage to the appliance. You may also experience electric shock if you are vacuuming in a room with low air humidity.
Can I leave my Dyson on charge all the time?
If you own a Dyson vacuum cleaner, you have to fully charge it before the first use and after every clean. That way, you can enhance its algorithm’s accuracy. The appliance comes in a battery built to be charged permanently to ensure that it is fully charged before the next use. Once it is fully charged, the appliance will not use any electricity.
I fully charged my cordless vacuum then turned it off to save electricity. However when I went to use it a few days later, it was flat. So it’s obviously been using a lot of electricity just to keep it fully charged