Millions of people in the U.S. rely on their air conditioners to keep them cool during the hot summer months. But, keeping cool comes at a cost. Having the air conditioner on around the clock uses more energy, which significantly increases your monthly utility bills.

Fortunately, it is possible to beat the heat without breaking the bank. Follow these smart and energy efficient air conditioner tips to save money this summer:

Clean or Replace Your Air Filters

Air filters are responsible for removing dust, dirt, and other debris prior to cooling the air and dispersing it throughout your home. If these filters are not cleaned or replaced on a regular basis, they will prevent air from flowing freely and make the A/C unit work harder to keep you cool.

Prevent this problem by cleaning or replacing the air filters throughout the summer to ensure your system is running as efficiently as possible. A clean, smart and energy efficient air conditioner does not consume more energy than it needs to operate, so this will keep your cooling costs low for the summer.

Clean the Coils

Dirt and debris can easily fall through the top of your air conditioner unit and clog the coils, which reduces your unit’s efficiency. For this reason, it’s also recommended that you clean the coils on your air conditioner unit during the summer.

Simply turn the unit off, remove the top and side panels, and remove the debris from the coils using a soft brush or refrigerator coil brush. The entire process of cleaning the coils only takes a few minutes, but it can drastically improve the unit’s overall efficiency and reduce cooling costs.

Adjust the Temperature

There’s no need to keep the house cold when no one is home, so get in the habit of turning the temperature up before leaving. Adjusting the temperature when no one is home will reduce your air conditioner’s overall energy consumption and save you money on your utility bills. In fact, it is estimated that increasing the temperature by 7-10 degrees Fahrenheit while no one is home can reduce your annual cooling costs by 10%.

Rearrange Furniture

Did you know that the placement of your furniture could affect your air conditioner’s efficiency? If a piece of furniture is blocking an air vent, it is also blocking the flow of cool air. This means it will be harder–and require more energy–for your air conditioner to cool down your home. Save money this summer by rearranging the furniture so it’s out of the air conditioner’s way.

Close Vents in Vacant Rooms

It’s best to close all of the air vents located in unoccupied rooms within your home. Closing these vents will ensure your air conditioner does not waste energy by cooling rooms that are not in use. Instead, the cool air will be forced to travel solely to areas of your home that are occupied. This trick will make it easier for your air conditioner to cool your home down faster and more efficiently.

It’s normal for cooling costs to increase during the summer, but that does not mean that they have to skyrocket. Keep your cooling costs as low as possible this summer by following these smart and energy efficient air conditioner tips.