Never run the unit without a filter.
The frequency in which you should clean or replace your filter is dependent upon several variables including the type of filter media, your outdoor environment and your indoor environment. Families with lots of activities, pets or with people sensitive to allergies should clean/replace filters more often. Contact your dealer with a recommended schedule for filter maintenance.
If you have opted for a permanent electrostatic filter, wash it with a garden hose and a mild household cleaner at least every 60 days. When placing the filter back in the slot, be sure that the filter is dry and that the arrow on the filter frame points toward the unit. If you have an electronic air cleaner installed, check with your dealer or refer to the air cleaner’s owner’s manual for cleaning instructions.
1. Turn off all power to unit and auxiliary heat.
2. Remove the screws holding the fan compartment door closed.
3. Lift the door up and pull out at the bottom.
Generally, dealers will size the geothermal unit to provide the majority of the heating requirements down to a certain outdoor air temperature. When conditions exist that require more capacity than the geothermal unit is sized to deliver, the auxiliary heater engages to assist the geothermal unit, (which continues to work). If the unit were to be sized to provide 100% of the heat on the coldest day, the unit would be “oversized” every day that isn’t the coldest day of the year. Plus, the initial cost of installation could have been significantly higher for a larger unit and additional loop. Yourdealer has determined the right combination/size of equipment that makes economic sense in terms of installation cost and operation.
The other reason for the auxiliary heater is to provide heating in the event of a compressor failure. Switching to Emergency Heat mode on your thermostat will provide the home with a source of heat until the compressor is replaced.
Depending on the water quality, some maintenance is usually required with a well water system. Without scheduled checkups, minerals and other particles in the water may eventually begin to clog the heat exchanger in the unit. When this happens, the efficiency and capacity of the unit is decreased, eventually to the point where failure may occur.
To minimize the potential of this happening, a heat exchanger cleaning schedule should be established with your dealer. The frequency will depend on the specific quality of your well water. Some homeowners find that they can go a few years between cleanings while others may need to have the heat exchanger cleaned yearly. In order to achieve optimum performance, energy savings and long system life, it is necessary to have your dealer perform this service as needed.
Remember — preventive maintenance is less expensive than replacing major components.
The cleaning procedure requires special equipment and chemicals. Therefore, do not attempt to clean the heat exchanger yourself.
Fossil fuel forced air heating systems will typically have short run times — a lot of high temperature air for a few minutes followed by a cooling off period, then another blast of hot air... and on and on. This type of operation results in ever-changing indoor temperatures and hot/cold spots within the home. This frequent cycling causes wear and tear on a gas furnace.
Your geothermal system will most likely run for longer periods of time than a gas furnace. It’s designed to do just that. You’ll get improved comfort and minimize hot/cold spots. These longer run hours actually help to increase efficiency and reduce wear and tear associated with frequent starting and stopping. It’s like driving your car in the city vs. the highway. The frequent starting and stopping of city driving causes more wear and tear than highway driving. Also, you achieve more miles per gallon (better efficiency) on the highway with fewer stops and starts. The same principle holds true with your geothermal system.
Heating systems are measured by BTU capacity per hour. Cooling systems are measured by “tons” (which is also BTU capacity). One BTU is the amount of energy required to raise 1 lb. of water 1 degree F — it’s roughly equivalent to the amount of heat given off by a wooden kitchen match burned end to end. In air conditioning terms, a “ton” is 12,000 BTUs/hr.
If you have larger areas or multiple rooms that do not require continuous heating and cooling, you may want to consider our exclusive IntelliZone System. This system uses several thermostats throughout the home and has motorized dampers that are electronically controlled. The dampers deliver properly balanced air flow and desired temperatures throughout the various zones. For more information on zone control systems, contact your WaterFurnace dealer.
As a result, you may find a need to air condition even though it may be cold outside. If your thermostat has an automatic changeover feature, ensure that the cooling setpoint will be a comfortable setting for your guests. If you have a manual changeover thermostat or if your thermostat is set for heating only, you should be prepared to change it over to cooling when you have many people inside the home. Another suggestion is to set the fan for continuous “on” so that the air is fully circulated throughout the various rooms to minimize hot spots or cold spots. When the guests leave and occupancy levels return to “normal,” be sure to switch back to heating mode if it’s cold outside. In the summer, you could benefit by setting the cooling setpoint a little lower than normal prior to many guests arriving so that the system can adequately maintain the temperature inside with the additional people and high outdoor temperatures.
Depending on a combination of factors (unit capacity, number of people, activity levels, and outdoor temperature) you may experience some fluctuation in indoor temperature. This is normal and only temporary.
Don’t worry about energy costs when doing some “extra” cooling. If your unit is equipped with a hot water generator, the heat removed from the house during cooling is going into your water heater.
Energy efficient choices for the home can save you up to one third of your energy bill without sacrificing features, style or comfort. When considering new household appliances, consider ones that have earned the ENERGY STAR® rating. They meet strict efficiency guidelines established by the government. In addition to appliances, whole homes can be constructed with ENERGY STAR® standards built right in. For more information on ENERGY STAR®, go to www.energystar.gov
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