Your heating and cooling bill can easily make up the majority of your utility expenses. That is why it is important to find ways to improve the efficiency of your air conditioning unit so you can help lower your heating and cooling costs. There are simple and easy ways that you can save on these expenses that will not cost you any money.

#1 Be Strategic About How You Create Heat in Your Home

Think before you create extra heat in your home. Two of your appliances that give off the most heat are your dryer and your oven. Don't run your dryer during the day when it is really hot outside; instead, run your dryer when it is cooler outside. The less your house heats up inside, the less your air conditioning system has to work.

When it comes to the oven, sometimes you can't avoid using the oven to prepare your meals. However, in the hottest months of the year, try to make meals that don't require heat at all or that you can easily cook on your stove top, in your slower cooker, or inside of your instapot. The less heat you make cooking, the less energy your air conditioner has to put out to keep your home cool.

#2 Keep Your Air Conditioning Drain Clean

Your air conditioner drains out water and moisture through a dedicated drain. This drain is located near the indoor cooling coil. When your drain line is clean, you can avoid blockages which can slow down the effectiveness of your air conditioning unit.

It is easy to clean your air conditioning drain. Once you locate the drain, pour a cup of bleach down the drain followed by about a gallon of boiling water. The bleach and boiling water will clean out your drain and should flush away any material that is clogging up your air conditioner's drain line.

#3 Use Your Curtains

Your curtains are useful not just during the winter months at keeping the cold out or during the evening to ensure some privacy. Your curtains are useful throughout the year. In the summer, keep your curtains and blinds closed when the sun hits your home. This is when the most heat from the outside is going to try to make its way into your home.

What time of day the sun hits your home really depends on how your house is positioned. All it takes is a little observation to figure out when to close your blinds. If you generally work during the day, keep your blinds closed during the day to keep your home cooler when you are not home.

Improve the efficiency of your air conditioner without spending any money by only using appliances that create a lot of heat during the coolest time of the day. Clean out the drain for your air conditioning unit. Keep your curtains closed when your home is being hit with direct sunlight.

Finally, keep in mind that it is always a good idea to have your air conditioner professionally inspected at least once a year to take care of any maintenance issues that could be interfering with the efficiency of your unit. If you are in need of an annual inspection, contact an air conditioning professional today.