Are you doubting that your air conditioner can help you beat the heat this summer? Well, it all depends on how you take care of your cooling system. With the summer season almost upon us, you need to make sure that your unit is up for the work that it will be doing. But even if it still runs, you want to ensure that it can do so while helping you save money.

Most people didn’t think that it is possible – but it really is.

There are a couple of tips that you can follow that will help you keep your air conditioning unit in top shape so it can help you cool off when the heat of the summer hits you very hard.

If you want the simplest and no-fuss option, you should just call a professional. Obviously, this is something that will cost you more – around $70 to $100. However, if you have the budget to pay for a professional immediately, you can just go ahead and do it. After all, if you do your own check up and you find out that there is something that needs repair or replacement, you will end up calling them anyway. By going for a professional first, you are actually speeding up things and you giving yourself a stress-free option.

But if you want to go the more economical way, here are some of the things that you need to accomplish yourself.

The frequency by which you have to do this will depend on your air conditioner. Some units will require you to change the filters every month while others can last without changing for a couple of months. You have to know when the air filter needs changing so you can do it. When you have a dirty filter, this can compromise the quality of the air you have in your home. Not only that, it can make your cooling unit work harder.

When you place the AC unit under a shade, it will run more efficiently. It can also keep the unit from working too hard to make your home cooler during the summer. When it is in a cooler place, that will make it easier to cool the air.

This is the same as putting the air conditioner directly under the heat of the sun. The effect of placing heat-emitting appliances near the thermostat will have the same effect. This will prompt the cooling system to work more on cooling the air. The heat from whatever is beside it will make it seem like the house is still too warm.

Did you know that any degree below 78 will make your energy consumption higher by 8%? If you can tolerate it, you should consider controlling the temperature.

If it helps, you should probably get an automatic thermostat. This will help you set the temperature inside the house – especially when nobody is home. You can set it so the thermostat will make the necessary adjustments when you are about to get home.

You should ensure that your house is free from air leaks. This will compromise the cool air inside your home and will also affect the performance of the AC unit. You will end up paying more on your electric bill because of these leaks. Check the windows, doors, and the walls. If you have to, put heavy blinds or curtains to cover the windows. You can also use a window film. This will keep the heat outside from making your home hotter.

Not only that you should also check the surrounding area. Have trees beside windows. You should also realize that rocks, cement, and even asphalt will make the area hotter. Keep these away from windows and doors. If you have an outdoor air conditioning unit, keep plants and shrubs from it. That way, the flow of air will not be compromised.

You do not have to make your air conditioner do all the work. You should also make your ceiling fans do some work in cooling the air in the house. The combined effort of the AC unit and the fans will make your home cooler without consuming too much energy.