Some homeowners are surprised to discover that the maintenance tips for a geothermal system are few and straightforward. For the most part, those are people who don’t have geothermal installed in their home. These systems harvest free renewable energy in the form of latent heat just a few feet below the earth’s surface and are engineered for long service life and low maintenance requirements. However, as with any mechanical technology, some upkeep is required. Here are five maintenance tips for a geothermal system to help ensure maximum efficiency and service life:
- Installation matters. Careful system sizing before installation, as well as site analysis to locate the ground heat exchanger in the most favorable soil and at the correct depth, is critical to receiving good performance results later.
- Antifreeze content. For optimum heat exchange, the blend of anti-freeze and water that circulates through the buried loop field must be correctly mixed and maintained at the correct level. An HVAC technician will verify correct content and volume of anti-freeze as part of an annual geothermal check-up.
- Mechanical and moving parts. The geothermal heat pump delivers even greater reliability than conventional air-source heat pumps because all components are indoors, sheltered from the effects of the elements. Blower motors and circulation pumps may accrue wear and tear in normal operation. However, this can be reduced by proper cleaning and lubrication. In addition, coils and heat exchangers need periodic cleaning to restore maximum heat transfer and efficiency.
- Ductwork. Your existing ductwork may not be as young as it used to be. Geothermal heat pumps require a high volume of circulating air. A qualified HVAC contractor can pressure test the ducts and identify the source of leakage as well as suggest any duct retrofits to increase air volume.
- Ground heat exchanger. The plastic tubing should not require maintenance. In most cases, simply assuring that no accidental digging or other excavation occurs at the site is all that’s required for long service life.
Looking for more maintenance tips for a geothermal system in Dayton or Springfield? Contact the professionals at Detmer And Sons, Inc.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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