If your house has been anything like mine, your air conditioner has been working overtime these past few weeks. For all of eastern Iowa, temperatures are expected to be close to 90 degrees for the remainder of the week. Did you know there are some very simple things you can do today, that could help lower the cost of your next AC bill?

Unsplash - Raychan
Unsplash - Raychan
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Filter - One of the first things you can do today is to check your filter. It may seem really simple but this is arguably the most effective way to save money or prevent a future breakdown.

If you aren't sure how old the filter is, change it, even if it looks to be in okay shape. Most filters range from $5 to $20 or so dollars, so while they may have a little cost upfront, maintaining a clean filter is key to saving money on your AC bill.

Unsplash - Kalyanaraman S
Unsplash - Kalyanaraman S
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Keep Air Moving - If you have ceiling fans make sure to turn them on. If you don't have ceiling fans, you can use pedestal fans or portable fans to help maintain airflow in the house.

If you have the extra money to install ceiling fans throughout your house that's fantastic but if you don't, be sure to grab a couple of portable fans for the rooms in your home. Moving air can help evaporate sweat off your skin to help your feel cooler, according to Comfort ECPHC.

Unsplash - Luis Cortes
Unsplash - Luis Cortes
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Insulate Doors and Windows - You have a few options to choose from when it comes to insulating your doors and windows. You can purchase a can of low-expansion insulating foam, which would cost about 10 dollars, or you can purchase plastic wrap to cover the windows.

I personally am not the biggest fan of doing this however, it is an option to help keep the cool air inside of your house. The only real problem I have with doing this is at our house we aren't constantly running our air conditioning all summer. On days that are in the lower-mid 70s, we open up the windows and give the air conditioner a break.

If you're constantly having to seal your windows shut, it could be kind of a pain. I am a fan of this process in the winter, as your heat is pretty much always on from November to about March.

Unsplash - Darren Richardson
Unsplash - Darren Richardson
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Cover Your Windows - According to Bankrate, 76% of sunlight on your windows enters in the form of heat. You can use Solar screens, blinds, or mesh window screens to help prevent this heat from getting into your house.

In specific, these screens work incredibly well on windows that face east and west.

Service Your AC  - While I can't promise you can have someone stop out at your house today, you could call today and make an appointment. It's pretty common knowledge that an inefficient air conditioner can raise your costs. You want to get into the habit of checking yourself or having your AC professional checked on every year.

We've already mentioned the filter but according to Bankrate you can check the coil fins and make sure they aren't blocking airflow. It is especially important if your AC is old to have a professional stop out to make sure your AC unit is running smooth or if it may need a tune-up.

While the temperatures haven't been exactly pleasant the past few weeks, there are things you can do to help lower the cost of your cooling bill. With the price of everything else going up, hopefully, you can still be comfortable in your home while keeping costs to a minimum.

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