It's one of the worst things that can happen in the summer: you come home to a sweltering warm house and realize the AC has quit on you. Of course, this always seems to happen on the hottest day of the year and at a time when you don't exactly have a lot of money to spare for a repair bill. If you want to restore your home to cool comfort, you will need to pay someone to repair the air conditioner — but there's no reason to overpay. Here are four ways to save money on air conditioning repairs.

1. Call around to various companies to see who offers a discount

Various HVAC companies run specials all of the time. It's just a matter of finding a company that happens to be offering deals on repairs right now. Sit down and make a list of HVAC companies in your area, and call around to each one to ask about specials. Don't just rely on their websites. Some HVAC companies are less tech-driven than others and may not update their websites as their specials change. Calling gives you the most up-to-date information. If you find a company that is offering 25% off for new customers, no service call with repairs, or some other deal, that's the one you'll want to call — provided they have decent reviews and can fit you in soon.

2. Check to see whether the repairs are covered under some sort of warranty

Almost all air conditioners are sold with some sort of warranty. But homeowners do not always realize their unit is still under warranty, so they end up paying out of pocket for repairs that should be covered. This happens especially when you hire a different HVAC company from the one that installed the unit, and they don't have a record of the unit's warranty. The best way to determine for certain whether there is a warranty on your AC unit is to call the manufacturer and give them the product number. If they tell you the AC unit is still under warranty, pass this information on to your HVAC contractor. They should be able to seek reimbursement from the AC manufacturer rather than billing you for the repairs.

3. Ask about aftermarket parts

By default, most AC repair companies will make repairs using factory-made parts from the manufacturer who made the air conditioner. However, aftermarket parts, which are generic parts made by an outside manufacturer, are often cheaper. Ask your repair tech if they can use aftermarket parts in your case and how much this would save you. There may be times when aftermarket parts are not suitable, such as if a major component has failed, but most of the time, they can give you the same results for less.

4. Ask a friend to refer you

Tell all of your friends that you need your air conditioner repaired, and ask if anyone is able to refer you. Some HVAC companies will give both their existing customer and a new customer a discount for a referral. You won't save a fortune this way, but you might save $50 or so. If you have hired an HVAC company before, reach out to that company and ask them about their referral procedure. Then, ask around to see if any of your friends need repairs, too. You might get a discount on the work you need done if you refer your friends.

Having an air conditioner break in the middle of the summer is unfortunate, but there are ways to make sure the repair bills to not break the bank. Contact an air conditioning repair company for more information.