6 Easy Tips to Handle Geothermal System Maintenance
Geothermal heat pumps offer a number of advantages to Wilmington area homeowners, such as lower energy costs, year-round heating and cooling from a single central system and lower maintenance requirements than traditional furnaces and air conditioners. Still, there are some elements of geothermal system maintenance that can make sure you get the most out of your system.
Geothermal System Maintenance Tasks
- Keep the system clean. Make sure dirt and debris don’t make their way into the internal components of your installation.
- Change the air filter. Just like a furnace or A/C, the geothermal system relies on the air filter to keep dust out of its inner workings. When the air filter becomes clogged, it hinders airflow and strains the fan motor.
- Check the condensation pan and clean the drain with a dilute bleach solution once a year. This will help prevent mold-causing moisture from building up.
- Keep an eye on your ductwork and seal any leaks. If any duct segments seem loose or damaged, have them repaired right away. Also check over the registers to make sure each one is delivering enough airflow to your rooms; if not, it could indicate an obstruction in the ducts.
- Use a programmable thermostat to regulate your indoor heating and cooling, and periodically check it to make sure it’s communicating with your system correctly. If the thermostat is battery-powered, change the batteries to keep them fresh.
- Schedule yearly or seasonal geothermal system maintenance with a qualified HVAC contractor. The experienced technician will be able to take care of many things you can’t, such as examining the refrigerant charge in the ground loops, ensuring that the loops themselves are in good condition, and giving the indoor unit a thorough inspection.
At Sobieski Services, Inc., our goal is to help our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey learn more about energy and home comfort issues – especially HVAC and plumbing issues – so that they can save money and live in healthier, more comfortable homes.
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