After a few days of sweating it out in her Columbia County home, she had to have someone take a look at her air conditioner.

"It just wasn't keeping up with the heat," she said. "It definitely needed servicing."

Mrs. Potter wasn't the only one calling for help this week.

"With this hot weather, there's more than enough work for everybody right now," said Peter Vagovic, the owner of Vagovic Heating and Air Conditioning. "We have all our crews out seven days a week. This is peak season."

Turns out the problem at the Potter household was fairly common: Dirty filters.

Clogged filters, coupled with dusty condenser and evaporator coils, reduces a unit's efficiency, causing it to work harder, use more electricity and - over time - malfunction.

Other common air conditioner ailments stem from low refrigerant levels and electrical problems, such as a blown fuse, but most performance problems are caused by inadequate cleaning and maintenance.

"You've got these 12-year-old units out there that haven't been maintained, and now they're under strain in the hot weather," said Olin Plunkett, the owner of Plunkett Heating and Air Conditioning. "Compressors are going out on 'em like flies. We're running two days behind trying to keep up."

During the summer months, air conditioners account for about half of household electrical consumption, according to Georgia Power.

The utility offers customers a free online energy analysis survey at www.southerncompany.com that is designed to help consumers lower their energy costs.

"We have trained specialists on staff who literally can come to your home and show you how to help improve your efficiency," company spokeswoman Amoi Geter said.

CUTTING COOLING COSTS