Does your home get uncomfortably hot during the summer? Does your air conditioner have to work overtime to keep the house cool? You may have some energy efficiency problems. Your windows, doors, and other areas of the home may be letting in too much sunlight and warm air. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to eliminate those inefficiencies and keep your home cool. Here are four of the best ways to cool your home down and take the burden off your air conditioner:

Seal gaps. It only takes a small crack or gap for air to find its way in and out of your home. These gaps can often be found around your windows and doors. Wooden frames have a tendency to warp and change shape as they're exposed to heat, humidity, and moisture. That can cause the frames to not align exactly with your doors and windows, creating small gaps for air to pass through. Examine your doors and windows and use sealant to patch up these gaps. You can also use weather stripping in your doors and windows to tighten up the seal.

Plant trees and shrubs around the windows. Sunlight can also be a powerful source of heat. One way to reduce the amount of heat coming into your home is to provide more shade around your windows. Plant attractive, leafy trees and shrubs around your windows to create natural shade. This is especially important on any western-facing sides of your home, where the hot afternoon sun could be shining directly into your windows.

Apply a window tint. If trees and shrubs don't do the job, you can also apply a tint film to your windows to filter out UV rays. These films are available at most window dealers and can be easily applied. Most of the films are clear enough that you can't even notice them unless you are extremely close to the window. They'll keep a lot of light out without obstructing the window's view.

Install vinyl windows. If you have wood or aluminum windows, they could be a significant source of energy inefficiency. Wooden windows can rot and warp when exposed to heat and moisture, creating space for air to pass through. The metal in aluminum windows acts as a conductor for heat, quietly transferring heat from the outside to the inside. Instead, try installing vinyl windows. Vinyl stands up well against heat and moisture and it also doesn't act as a heat conductor.

For more information, contact your window dealer or a specialist like Howald Windows & Doors. They can recommend many ways to make your windows more energy efficient.