Household appliances may be adding '£150 and £300' to energy bills for one reason

Hard water may be affecting your energy bills (Image: d3sign via Getty Images)

Households are being encouraged to clean specific appliances as it could help reduce energy bills. Cleaning experts have claimed that millions of UK homes are struggling with extreme water hardness, which may cost hundreds of pounds annually due to limescale buildup.

Hard water, which is high in minerals like calcium and magnesium, isn't harmful to health, but it can lead to limescale accumulation on appliances, which may give rise to various problems. Limescale typically builds up in appliances such as kettles, boilers, dishwashers and washing machines.

According to British Water, even a thin 1mm layer of limescale on appliances can increase energy consumption by seven to 10 per cent, adding roughly betwee