is your attic well-ventilated?

If you have ever opened up your cooling bill in the summer and could not believe your eyes, you are not alone. Air conditioning costs can definitely get pretty expensive. However, if you make some simple changes, you air conditioning bills will be less of a shocker every month. Here are six effective tips for lowering your cooling bills:

Install Solar Screens

Ultraviolet rays can easily sneak through your windows and warm up your entire house, making your air conditioning system work twice as hard. If you install solar screens on your windows, they can block out most of these ultraviolet rays and keep your house cooler.

Stop Cooking With Your Oven

When the temperatures get scorching hot, do not even think about using your oven. All the heat from the oven will spread throughout your entire home and make the entire place hotter. It is best to cook your food outside on a grill.

Plant Trees

Trees do not just look beautiful and provide oxygen; they also can block out a lot of sunlight. If you plant a few trees around your property, your home will get better shade and stay cooler.

Clean the Filters

One of the simplest ways you can reduce your cooling costs is to keep the air conditioning filters clean. If these filters are plugged up with dust and dirt, the air conditioning system can't run as efficiently. Make sure to wipe the filters with a wet cloth every month.

Get Your Air Conditioning System Inspected Every Year

No matter how well your air conditioning system seems to be working, you should still get it inspected every year by a cooling contractor. He or she can carefully examine all of the air conditioner's components to make sure they are working efficiently. If something is wrong with the system, the cooling contractor can fix the issue before it causes high cooling bills.

Utilize Your Ceiling Fan

If you do not already have a ceiling fan in your house, give some serious consideration to installing one in your living room. If it runs in a counterclockwise direction, it will spread more cool air throughout your house and make you feel cooler, according to Energy Star.

If you follow these helpful tips, you can get your cooling costs under control. However, if they are still too high, you should have a cooling contractor come look at the air conditioning system. To find out more, contact a business like Mountain Air Comfort Systems.