Your Geothermal Heating and Cooling System: 5 Maintenance Musts

Geothermal heating and cooling provides highly efficient, year-round home comfort. It’s a growing trend in America; more than one million homeowners have installed geothermal systems on their properties so far.

One major benefit of geothermal heating and cooling systems is that they require minimal maintenance. With few moving parts, there’s little that can go wrong. Still, total neglect may cause your system to decline sooner than it should, so be sure to implement these five maintenance musts.

1. Proper installation

Set yourself up for success by hiring a professional to perform the installation process. Find a qualified HVAC contractor with geothermal experience. This ensures a quality installation that meets heating and cooling demand without the system being larger than it needs to be.

2. Correct antifreeze/water levels

The underground loop system requires the right amount of antifreeze/water solution to run efficiently. Have a technician check the fluid levels during routine maintenance.

3. Clean indoor components

Dirt and dust builds up on the indoor heat exchanger and blower motor. Keeping these components clean is an essential part of efficient operation.

4. Sealed air ducts

A geothermal system’s great efficiency can be undermined by leaky ductwork. If gaps or cracks let heated and cooled air escape, your system will fail to keep your home comfortable at the low utility cost you expect from your investment. During the installation, insist that the technician check the condition and design of the ductwork. Then, include a quick inspection as part of routine maintenance.

5. Intact piping

The underground loops usually are made of the same material as city water pipes and come with a 50-year warranty, so there’s little concern that the piping will become damaged. Still, the last thing you want is an antifreeze leak on your property. That’s why checking the pipes’ condition is an important part of routine maintenance. Plan to schedule annual preventative maintenance for your geothermal heating and cooling system to keep it in top working condition.

For more information about geothermal systems, please contact Sobieski Services, Inc. Our goal is to help educate our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC & plumbing systems).

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