HVAC and Heat: Tips and tricks for keeping your house cool and energy bill low

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – This summer in Augusta has been a sweltering one, leaving many indoors. We talked to a pro and got some tips to keep your house cool– and your power bill low.

First, keep doors and blinds closed, and check your insulation– if it is thin, it will be hotter inside. Turn up the AC when you are away from the house.  Also, a fan in your attic will help keep the hot air out.  If your home still feels too hot, check how your airflow is working.

“You could use just a simple digital thermometer and go up to one of your vets that’s pushing air out and take a temperature. Look at that temperature and then go to your thermostat. Look at your actual temperature and do the math. Subtract one from the other,” said Patrick Cutlip, the owner of Atlas Heating and Air.

There should be a 17-to-20-degree difference…  if it is 15 to 16, your house will likely warm up in the afternoon, which may indicate a problem.

“Cleaning it, the biggest thing that happens is the outdoor unit. This is considered the outdoor unit; some are bigger than this. It’s making sure this coil stays clean,” said Cutlip.

Keeping the AC units and filters clean is vital for the airflow in your home. Different filters are used for more airflow and people with allergies.

“You have the three-month filter, which is a nice filter, but the only problem with that filter is people forget to change them because they left it in there for three months, and they’re very expensive. You can almost buy six of these for the same price as the three-month filter,” said Cutlip.

Ideally, you would perform maintenance on your system twice a year, but if you only do it annually, aim for spring.

“I would do it in late spring or early summer because I can probably put a coat on or a jacket, but there’s nothing I can do in this heat,” said Cutlip.

Cutlip says most houses in Augusta were designed to be set at 75 degrees in the summer and 70 degrees in the winter. But with these extremely hot days, it’s harder to keep the house cool, and a unit may overwork. Regular maintenance checks can keep these issues from happening.

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