If you purchased a home with a large central air conditioning unit but you can't afford to use it much, there are a few ways you can lower your cooling expenses. There are many homeowners that stress about cooling bills in the summer, but you can cut your costs without having to spend a lot of money.

You want to have an air conditioner repair professional come to your house so they can make sure that there isn't anything wrong with the unit and to make sure that it's the best option for your home. Here are three things you want to have the HVAC professional do to help you save money.

Duct Insulation and Caulking

Up to 30 percent of the air that comes out of your air conditioner may be lost traveling through the ducts before it even hits the rooms inside your home. That is air that you aren't benefiting from but still paying for. Duct insulation can help stop leaks throughout the ventilation system and is also beneficial during the winter when you use your system for heating.

You can go around your home and put caulking around doorways and window frames--and even pipes if you can feel air passing through. This will also help stop air loss.

Size Evaluation

People don't always think clearly when they purchase a new appliance, and they think that bigger is better. An air conditioner that is too big for your home isn't going to be the most efficient option, and it could be costing you money. Have the air conditioning expert see if the unit is too large, and consider replacing it. If they think it's too large, see if they would like to buy it from you to reuses elsewhere, or see if you could use the sale money to replace it with a more efficient option.

Machine Cleaning

The air conditioner may be running slow or struggling to create cold air because the machine needs a tune-up. Have the HVAC professional change all of the air filters, check the refrigerant levels, and investigate the components to help improve efficiency. While you may think you are saving money by not having your AC serviced, it is best to service it every year right before the summer months.

If you have a nice air conditioner but have to sweat all summer because you can't afford to run the machine, talk with an air conditioning repair professional to get to the bottom of your problem. These tips can help you save money and help you run your home more efficiently to conserve energy.