When your air conditioner has to run all day and night during the hot days of summer, your power bill can escalate. You can't control the weather, but there are some things you can do to help your air conditioning system work as efficiently as possible so your power bills stay in control. Here are some suggestions that might help.

Have Repairs Done Promptly

If your air conditioner isn't keeping you as cool as it usually does, it's time to investigate and see what's wrong. If the problem is a refrigerant leak, the condition could get worse and cause your AC to run nonstop and drive up your power bill. If your air conditioner wasn't serviced before the cooling season began, it's possible the inside of the unit is dusty and dirty. If the coils are covered with dust, your AC won't cool properly. You want your AC to be working optimally so it is as efficient as possible. When your AC isn't blowing air as forcefully as usual, the air doesn't seem as cold, or your AC seems to run all the time, you may want to call an air conditioning repair service such as Any Season Heating & Air Conditioning to fix your AC so it can work more efficiently.

Check The Ducts

You might forget about the air ducts in your attic, but it's good to check them during the summer if your house seems hotter than usual. A gap in a duct seam or a hole will allow cold air to leak into your attic rather than blow through the registers below. You can cover small holes with duct tape to stop the leak, but you may want to check your repairs occasionally to make sure they hold.

Add Insulation If Needed

One thing that helps your AC run more efficiently is proper insulation. You might try adding another layer of fiberglass batt insulation in your attic if it needs it, but you don't want to forget about gaps under doors and around windows as these can allow hot outdoor air to get inside your home. Use weatherstripping or caulk to seal gaps you find. You might even want to block the sun with heavy drapes so it won't heat up your home and make the air conditioner work harder.

Keep The Air Conditioner Clean

When you have your annual air conditioner tuneup, the technician will clean out the AC, but it's still good if you keep it dusted and clean the vents occasionally. Keeping dust off the unit can prevent dust from getting drawn inside and coating the fan or coils. The cleaner your AC is inside, the more efficiently it runs.