A geothermal heating and cooling system is one of the best decisions you can make when it comes to your home. Not only is it an energy efficient way to heat and cool your house without the use of fossil fuels or greenhouse gas emission, but it is also a very cost-effective method. Installation costs are dropping and edging closer to the cost of installing a traditional HVAC system, so having and maintaining a geothermal HVAC system is now a smarter investment than ever!
If you’ve purchased a house with a geothermal heating and cooling system, you’re in luck! You can skip the part about making the choice to install it (and save on the installation costs themselves). However, if you’ve never had one before, it can be hard to know what you need to do to maintain it or what the warning signs are that your geothermal system needs repairs. Here are three indicators that it’s time to call the repair man in the Omaha, Nebraska area.
- Energy bill spike: One of the easiest ways to tell if your system needs repaired is by checking your electric bill each month. The Geothermal HVAC system uses a very small amount of energy, which is one of its main selling points. However, you should still be able to notice a spike in your electric bill if something isn’t right.
- Wet patches of lawn: It is highly unlikely that the ground loops of a geothermal system will require repair unless they are nearing the end of their 50-year life expectancy. However, if you notice water spots on your lawn, it may be signs of a leak. If this occurs alongside loss in heating or cooling power, then call a technician. They will insert a dye in order to determine the root of the issue and will be able to get it back to working order.
- Loss of heating or cooling power: If you notice that your system is working overtime to reach the desired temperature, ice forming on the coils inside the cabinet or that there is a rattling noise, then there may be broken loops. Call a technician and keep in mind that you will have to replace the indoor unit before you have to replace the ground loops that are buried. The indoor unit typically lasts up to 25 years and replacing the indoor unit is less expensive than the initial cost of installation, or the cost of the ground loops.
Your geothermal HVAC system requires annual maintenance in order to keep it running smoothly. If an issue does occur, you notice a drop in efficiency or a spike in your electricity bill than call a professional to diagnose the issue and get your system back up and running.