If you want to stay relaxed and cool in your home this summer without worrying about your energy bills going through the roof, keeping your air conditioning unit tuned up is a good place to start.

A spring checkup of your home’s A/C system can extend its life by several years, as well as save you up to 15 percent a month on your energy bills. That will more than pay for the estimated $70 to $100 yearly maintenance expense – and the annual visit from your HVAC pro can help you find small problems before they grow into bigger, more costly ones.

A well-looked-after unit can last up to 15 years, compared to seven years for ones that are left ignored. Left unserviced, units can lose up to five percent of their efficiency each year, leading to a new A/C system that can cost about $5,000 to replace.

Homeowners can play their part by changing the filters on their heating, ventilation and cooling system four times a year to keep it running smoothly and improving their home’s airflow.