Millions of households will see their energy bills rise again from April 1 as the new Ofgem price cap comes into effect. This will increase by 6.4%, hiking up yearly costs for the average dual fuel household by £111, or £9.25 a month.

The rise in energy bills is among a number of utility charges surging this month, with council tax and water bills set to get more expensive too. To offset some of the soaring costs, a home appliance expert has issued advice on how to effectively save money, using your fridge freezer. "Many households don't realise just how much their fridge freezer impacts their energy bills,” says Salah Sun of Beko UK, a leading manufacturer of fridge freezers and other home appliances.

A crucial money-saving maintenance tip includes checking the door seal regularly to maintain optimum energy efficiency. A damaged door seal forces appliances to work harder, as once warm air enters a fridge freezer through cracks or splits, the appliance will have to start using more power.

Similarly, maintaining the ideal temperature at 3-5C is important for both energy efficiency and food safety. Even when your fridge’s door seals are in perfect condition, Mr Sun says to avoid keeping the door open as the appliance will need to work harder to get the temperature back under control.

When storing leftovers in the fridge, the appliance expert advises using glass containers instead of plastic. This is because glass better absorbs and retains cold, maintaining stable temperatures.

Mr Sun also says to never place hot food directly into your fridge as this will force your kitchen appliance to work harder. Storing uncovered food and liquids is also a costly mistake that many make, as this can put unnecessary strain on your fridge's compressor and increase moisture levels.

While it might seem efficient to use every available inch of space, overfilling your fridge can be counterproductive. "An overcrowded fridge struggles to circulate cold air effectively," Mr Sun says. "This means the appliance's fan, compressor and other components have to work harder, using more energy.”

For those who have had their fridge for many years, investing and upgrading could be a great long-term, money-saving move. Mr Sun said energy-efficient fridge freezers can provide lifetime energy savings of up to £1,568.