If you're like most homeowners, you rely on your air conditioner to keep things cool and comfortable inside your house throughout the summer months. However, with use comes wear and tear on your system, which could result in the need for expensive repairs as time goes on. Here are a couple of things you can do to avoid the need for expensive repairs in the future:

Do Some DIY Maintenance

It's important to engage in some do-it-yourself maintenance to protect your air conditioner and reduce -- if not eliminate -- the need for expensive repairs as time goes on. A lack of maintenance could put extra wear on your air conditioning system and cause it to break down prematurely.

By taking the time to do things like clean or replace the air filters on a regular basis, you'll effectively reduce wear and tear, and minimize the chance of facing a serious break down in the near future. You should also take time to do the following:

• Lubricate the condenser fan and other easily accessible moving parts using a professional lubricant obtained from your repair technician or local home improvement store.

• Flush the condensation drain to get rid of buildup and enhance drainage functionality.

• Test all the controls to ensure proper and efficient operation.

• Tighten all easily accessible connections where possible to ensure safe and efficient performance.

In addition to completing these tasks on a regular basis, it's a good idea to schedule a professional inspection and tune-up with your service provider once a year or so.

Utilize Alternative Cooling Methods

An easy way to avoid the need for expensive AC repair as the future unfolds is to simply use the air conditioner less often throughout the year. However, reducing your air conditioning use doesn't have to result in a hot and uncomfortable home. By using alternative forms of cooling, you can keep your home cool and comfortable without putting wear and tear on your air conditioning system. Consider using one or more of these options:

• Ceiling fans.

• Portable air conditioning units.

• Window air conditioning units.

• Swamp coolers.

• Portable table fans.

The less your air conditioner has to work, the less wear and tear it will face -- and the less you'll have to worry about expensive repairs. Even if you don't want to limit your air conditioner use, you can utilize some of these alternative cooling methods to make it easier for your air conditioner to do its job as it ages.