The hot summer months are rapidly approaching. At many commercial facilities, air conditioning costs are often a significant expense during warmer times of the year.

Now is the time to make repairs to your air conditioning system to minimize overhead costs this year and prepare for rising temperatures. The following are six air-conditioning mistakes you can correct now at your facilities to improve your bottom line this summer:

Overusing your air conditioner

A lot of business owners and managers make the mistake of keeping their facilities much colder than they need to be in the summer months.

Remember that you are going to have to pay for every degree your air conditioner is bringing your interior temperatures down. You want to keep your customers and staff members comfortable, but to avoid unnecessary expense, don't keep interiors colder than they need to be.

Choosing air-conditioning equipment poorly

There are two important factors to keep in mind when you are selecting air-conditioner units for a commercial facility: the size of the unit and the efficiency features it offers.

You need to work with an experienced commercial HVAC technician who knows how to properly size your unit for your facility and is experienced in commercial air conditioning services. You should also put some thought into purchasing an efficient unit that is designated an ENERGY STAR product by the EPA to minimize energy consumption.

Not having programmable thermostats installed

Programmable thermostats are a great way to ensure that you stay on schedule with your air-conditioner use. You can set programmable thermostats so that you don't use air-conditioning equipment outside of business hours when it's not necessary. 

Not having a dehumidifier

If you are located in an area with high humidity, you might want to consider adding a dehumidifier to your HVAC equipment.

This will keep customers and staff members comfortable, even when it's hot and sticky outside. A dehumidifier might help you to attract and keep customers coming back to your facilities because your facilities stay comfortable year-round.

Forgetting to change filters often enough

Changing filters on your air-conditioning unit when necessary is a simple and inexpensive way to ensure that your unit keeps operating at maximum efficiency.

Neglecting to repair leaking ducts

It's a good idea to have a commercial HVAC technician occasionally inspect your ducts and seal up leaks.

If your ducts are leaking air, your air conditioner is going to have to work extra hard to cool your interiors. This means it will consume more energy and wear out faster than it should.