In the middle of summer, keeping cool is the most pressing concern on most people's minds. Air conditioners can keep your home comfortable, even when it's sweltering outside. However, if you're not treating your air conditioner right, you may not be reaping its full benefits. Here are four tips to help you get the most cooling power from your air conditioner.

1. Keep all doors and windows closed.

This should go without saying, but keep your doors and windows closed when you're running your air conditioner. Open windows can let cold air out, forcing your AC unit to work harder to reach the correct temperature. You should also keep doors to other rooms closed, if you aren't utilizing central air conditioning. There's no need to let your window unit AC cool your hallway when you're sitting in your bedroom.

2. Don't put off changing your air filter.

Some AC models will alert you when it's time to change your air filter, usually through a small light that turns on. It may be tempting to ignore this indicator, in order to stretch out your air filter's life, but that can actually harm your air conditioner's efficiency. Your AC works by taking in air and cooling it, then expelling hot air outside. A filter that's clogged with dust or other particles can interrupt this process, making your AC less effective.

3. Program your AC to turn on before you get home from work.

After you've been at work all day, coming home to a house full of hot, stagnant air can be demoralizing. If you have a programmable air conditioner, you can avoid this problem entirely. Set your AC to turn on half and hour before you get home, so the air will be cool as soon as you walk in the door.

4. Have your air conditioner serviced when necessary.

If you notice that your air conditioner isn't cooling the air the way it used to, there may be something wrong with one of its internal components. Never ignore a sluggish, underperforming AC because it can drive up your electric bill without providing the cool air you need. As soon as you notice a problem, call your air conditioning service at once. They'll be able to find the source of your problem and make any necessary repairs or replacements. Your comfort is worth the cost of having your air conditioner repaired.

For more information, reach out to air conditioning services in your area.