As the summer months approach, many people rely on their air conditioner for relief from the heat. While the air conditioner can help keep you cool, it might not provide the level of comfort you are after. If you are wanting to decrease the temperature in your home during the summer months, use these four tips in combination with your air conditioner for maximum cooling:

1. Block Out Sunlight

It might not seem like it, but a lot of heat can come into your home through your windows. If you want to stay cooler during the hot days of summer, consider blocking out the excess light. You can use standard curtains, however, blackout curtains will work best. Other options for blocking the sunlight include solar screens, tinted window films, and blinds.

2. Check And Seal Air Leaks

All of the rooms in your home should be sealed up tight. A small crack or leak allows the cool air to leave the home, while inviting warm air in. This essentially makes your air conditioner less effective. If you want to stay cool, check your home for leaks. Be sure to check any room that is air conditioned, as well as your basement and attic. A little trick for searching for leaks is to use a candle. Hold the candle near the areas you want to check and watch for the flame to move out go out. If it does, you have a leak.

Once you have found leaks in your home, seal them up. You can use caulking or weather-stripping to seal up the holes, as both work well. You might also want to replace worn out caulking and weather-stripping, to keep your home as air-tight as possible.

3. Run Heat Inducing Appliances At Night

Heat inducing appliances can cause your home to heat up significantly, especially if you run them during the hottest part of the day. To help keep your home cooler, run all heat inducing appliances—such as the dishwasher and dryer—at night when the temperatures are cooler.

4. Have Your Air Conditioner Repaired

If your air conditioner is working well, you might want to consider hiring an ac repair specialist to come look at your machine. It might need some maintenance or cleaning. It might also need some minor repairs.

The heat of the summer months can take its toll on anyone. If you can't stay cool, even when using an air conditioner, use these tips to help keep your home cool.