One of the nicest things about heating and cooling your Salem home with a geothermal system is the negligible maintenance it requires. The system’s relative simplicity is reason enough that. But minimal maintenance doesn’t mean no maintenance. Keeping your system running smoothly and efficiently does entail regularly checking the heat pump’s fluid levels and temperatures as well as swapping out filters in both the air handling unit and the geothermal ground-loop system. In addition to that, yearly maintenance service should be provided by the registered, qualified geothermal energy engineers at Mill Creek Heating. These twin efforts – yours and ours – can insure that your compressors and circulation pumps hold up for a respectable 35 to 50 years, the calculated life of your geothermal system.
By all means, consult your owner's manual for information on the correct maintenance procedures. It’s enough to note here that investigating fluid levels basically involves checking on the amount of refrigerant required to operate the geothermal heat pump.
There are in fact two filters in the air handling unit that require changing periodically: one in the discharge ducting, the other in the air return system. Both filters catch airborne particles picked up throughout your home; particles like dust, fluff, dust mites, insects, and smoke residue. Commonly, HEPA filters are installed, but there are other kinds of decent filters that can help allergy sufferers.
The most prevalent geothermal air filter is the disposable kind. Change them every three months. Permanent filters, which you can sanitize with a vacuum-cleaner hose, should be removed from the housing and cleaned every one to three months. Whether cleaning or replacing, it’s necessary that you don rubber gloves, eye protection, and a face mask that fits over your mouth and nose. It’s even more vital, however, that you unplug the system from all power sources beforehand!
For further specifics on maintaining your geothermal heating and cooling system, look at your O&M Manual or
call on the pros at Mill Creek Heating. We’re at your service!