When it is really hot out, any little bit helps when it comes to keeping the interior of your home cool. During the hottest part of the day, between noon and 2pm, keep direct sunlight from entering your home by closing the shades or curtains. This will help your home cooler and give your air conditioning a bit of help when the weather is hot and muggy.
During periods of heavy use, make sure that you change the air filters in your air conditioning system once a month. This ensures that there is proper air flow for your system to function properly. Well ventilated air conditioning systems run more efficiently, saving you money on cooling costs.
The best way to keep your system running smoothly is to have your air conditioning system professionally serviced at the beginning of the cooling season. This way, your system will be ready to go when the hot weather starts. Even if it is the middle of summer and you haven't had your system serviced, call in a professional that will clean out air ducts, check the interior of your unit for repair needs, and change out the air filters.
Remember that in order to keep your system from working too hard, give your cooling system a break every so often. When the weather is cooler at night, open windows and allow fans to cool off your home. While it is convenient to use your AC system, it's also important to keep your home cool when possible by opening the windows.