A handy refrigerator item that costs just $10 can seriously reduce energy bills

As energy costs continue to leave a big hole in the household budget, we're all looking for new ways to keep the bills in check – and one part of your home you may have overlooked is your fridge.

What you may not realize is that both this – and your freezer – can eat up a significant portion of your power.

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This is what Kate Hall, founder of thefullfreezer.com (@thefullfreezer).

The mother of two is on a mission to help people cut costs when using these appliances, and has come up with a handy little item you can buy to avoid wasting both money and energy: a replacement door seal.

“It is very important to check that the door seal is intact,” says Kate.

“If yours doesn't seal properly, cold air will escape and warmer air will sneak in, so you'll need to replace it.”

An easy way to check this is to place a €10 note between the frame and the seal.

If the note stays in place, you have nothing to worry about. But when things get out of hand, it means you need to take action.

The freezer added: “You can also use a chopstick wrapped in a microfiber cloth to clean your seal and check for any cracks,” she said.

“If your door seal is worn or damaged, it needs to be replaced. The good news is: this shouldn't cost too much.”

You can find replacement door seals for between £10 and £20 on Amazon and eBay.

“You need to make sure you get the right seal for your device,” says Kate.

“Getting the seal working properly again can make a big difference to your bills.”

According to The Eco Experts, a comparison website, if you don't keep your fridge or freezer in good condition (for example if the door seal is broken), your electricity bill could increase by £20 a year. will work less efficiently and use more energy.

Replacing the seal is a simple job that you can do yourself.

Simply remove the old one by pulling it out and then install the new one starting in the corners and working towards the center.

Other ways to reduce refrigerator costs

Once you are satisfied that your seal is working efficiently, it is very important to keep the refrigerator door closed to avoid unnecessary energy consumption.

She said: “When we open the doors of our refrigerator and freezer, cold air escapes and warm air rushes in.”

Even if you leave the door open for just a minute, it can take ten minutes for a refrigerator to return to its original temperature.

“To speed up the time it takes you to 'dive' into your refrigerator or freezer, keep your appliances organized,” says Kate.

“And make sure your units aren't too full, as this will keep the cold air from moving around your food.”

Another good tip from Kate is to give your devices enough space.

“Our fridges and freezers are on 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so it's important that the heat can escape from them easily,” she says.

“Try to leave a 4-inch gap behind your appliances to allow for better airflow.”

As tempting as it may be to put 'defrosting your refrigerator and freezer' at the bottom of your 'to-do list', it is important not to do this as it could cost you money.

“Don't put off this task any longer,” Kate said.

“Icy appliances have to work harder, so try to defrost about every six months – or when ice buildup is about half an inch.”

This keeps your devices working optimally efficiently.

Failure to defrost your freezer can also add up to $150 to your annual bills.

The money-saving mom also recommends being a little “strategic” about how you use the space in your freezer.

“Try to keep your machine well stocked – ideally about three-quarters full,” says Kate, who has a new book out on March 14 – The Full Freezer Method.

“This is because less warm air can flow in and the temperature is kept down by the cold items inside.”

According to the savvy mom, a great way to stock your freezer is to freeze fresh food that's in danger of ending up in the trash.

“This also means avoiding waste,” she added.

“Alternatively, you can use water bottles to make large ice packs.

“Just make sure they are only two-thirds full as you need to leave enough room for the water in the bottle to expand.”

This keeps your devices working optimally efficiently.

When it comes to defrosting food, it is wise to thaw certain items – such as desserts or frozen leftovers – in the refrigerator.

“This is a great way to ensure your device doesn't have to work so hard,” says Kate.

“This is because the frozen food acts like an ice block, keeping the temperature low.

“That said, I wouldn't thaw bread in the refrigerator as it tastes best at room temperature.

“The refrigerator can make it go stale faster.”

A final tip from the freezer pro is to avoid putting hot things in the refrigerator or freezer.

“If you put hot food in your appliance, the temperature will rise,” says Kate.

“Not only does this mean he has to work harder, it can also make your food unsafe.”

The best approach, she adds, is to cool your food within two hours of cooking.

“To do this, you first need to stir it regularly,” she said.

“Once you have done this, you should divide it into smaller portions or place it in a cold flat dish so that the heat can escape.

“At this point you can even put the food in the bowl in an ice water bath if you wish.”

Once your food has cooled thoroughly, you can store it in your refrigerator or freezer.

The latest price cap change, which came into effect in January, saw bills for the average household rise from £1,834 to £1,928 a year, an increase of £94.

The next price cap will be announced this week (February 23) and it is expected that, after a painful two years of sky-high energy bills, we could finally see a drop in rates.

That said, energy experts warn that consumers won't feel the benefits of a rate cut until that cap takes effect in April.

In the meantime, it is important that you continue to take all possible steps to keep energy costs low.