WaterFurnace Geothermal heating and cooling system Owner's Manual page 40

FAQs, GENERAL INFORMATION & OPERATING TIPS
What about humidity control?
Geothermal units do an excellent job of removing humidity during cooling. This results in better comfort. However,
during heating (depending on your home and outdoor air temperatures) you may experience the effects of having
too little humidity indoors. This is not the fault of the unit—it does not remove any humidity during heating (unlike a
gas furnace). In the event that your home does not maintain optimum indoor humidity levels of 40-50% relative hu-
midity during the heating season, you may benefi t from using a whole house humidifi er integrated into your system.
Contact your dealer and refer to page 52 for more information.
Should the duct work be cleaned?
Ducted HVAC systems can be a collection point for a variety of contaminants (mold, fungi, bacteria and dust) that
have the potential to adversely affect your health. In addition to improved indoor air quality and the possible health
benefi ts of duct cleaning, the EPA has demonstrated that HVAC systems run more effi ciently when these contami-
nants are removed from the system. Older homes, or homes with smokers, pets, and people sensitive to allergies
could benefi t from duct cleaning. Many HVAC contractors can perform an inspection and duct cleaning using spe-
cialized equipment. Contact your dealer for more information.
Can the air in the home be "sanitized" in any way?
Indoor air quality can be improved using special ultra-violet (UVC) lights placed in the air distribution system. Al-
though these lights do not remove any contaminants (you'll still need a fi lter) they will kill (or render sterile) airborne
or surface microorganisms including bacteria, germs, mold spores, and pollens. In addition to the health benefi ts
of this technology, equipment effi ciency can be improved by the fact that the air coil is kept cleaner. Contact your
dealer for more information.
What is ENERGY STAR ®?
®
ENERGY STAR is a program supported by the U.S. Dept. of Energy and the EPA, designed
to help homeowners and businesses protect the environment using superior energy effi cient
technologies. Nationwide, the annual savings using ENERGY STAR
amount of energy required to power 20 million homes, and avoid greenhouse gas emissions
equivalent to 18 million cars. This represents billions of dollars in savings.
Energy effi cient choices for the home can save you up to one third of your energy bill without sacrifi cing features,
style or comfort. When considering new household appliances, consider ones that have earned the ENERGY
STAR® rating. They meet strict effi ciency 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.
Is my unit ENERGY STAR ® rated?
Our highest effi ciency units meet ENERGY STAR
• Premier, Premier Splits
• E Series, ES Splits, EZ Splits
• Envision Series
38
®
products is equal to the
®
standards. These include: