July and August are historically the hottest parts of the summer in many parts of the country, which means that AC bills are running high while people try to beat the heat and keep themselves cool. If you’ve blanched at some of your cooling bills this summer, you may be paying more than you need to. Here are some basic ac maintenance tips to help maintain the life of your cooling system, as well as saving you a little bit of money on these costly summer bills.

Clean the Filter in the Air Conditioner

If the air filter on your air conditioner is dirty, then the system has to work harder in order to pump the same amount of air into your home. The system working harder will translate to higher bills, so it’s important to stay on top of making sure that filter stays clean. Try to vacuum and sanitize the filter regularly (once every three months is a solid schedule) and you may find that your cooling system is running cleaner and more efficiently than before.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

If you own your home, some of the best AC maintenance you can do is preventative maintenance, and part of that means keeping the house at a set temperature when you’re not around. Not only will it save you from having to manually fuss with the thermostat every time you catch a chill, but keeping the temperature at one level while you’re home and another while you’re out of the house can save you serious money in the long run.

Install a Draft Blocker

Another small, preventative AC maintenance tip that people tend to forget is installing a draft blocker. These small seals for doors cost next to nothing. Made of plastic or insulated material, they slide under the door and keep cool air from escaping or warm air from entering your home. Not having one can be the equivalent of leaving your air conditioning running with your windows open a crack and can translate to much higher energy costs during the summer when your cooling system is working overtime to try to maintain a consistent temperature in your home.

Budget for Yearly Maintenance

While servicing your AC filters yourself can help save you money, leaving room in your budget to have an ac service technician come look at your HVAC setup can help save you serious money in the long run. Remember: your air conditioning is a major piece of equipment, the same as anything else in your home, and it can break down and suffer from wear and tear over time. Yearly air conditioning service from a qualified AC repair company can help you extend the service life of your machine, as well as avoiding costly major repairs down the line.

Run a Fan

Another crucial bit of AC maintenance you can perform at home is giving your cooling system a chance to rest. If you live in an area that cools off at night, consider cracking a window and installing a window mounted fan. This can either push cooler air into the room or pull heat out of the room, depending on your preferences. Installation only takes a few minutes and can help keep your air conditioner from running through the night, saving you some serious change.

The summer can be brutal in parts of the country, both in terms of the heat and the effects those soaring temperatures can have on our wallets. But with a little preventative AC maintenance and a few clever workarounds, you can bank the money you saved for a vacation when the weather gets colder and we’re all longing for those summer days once again. Do you have a tip that’s helped you save money on your electric bill in the summer? Let us know in the comments below!