The Power of Geothermal Heating and Cooling
Geothermal heat pumps have been used for decades. Like other heat pumps, geothermal systems can both heat and cool your home, and can even be set up to supply hot water to your home. Heat pumps do not consume fuel to heat and cool your home the way that more conventional home comfort systems do. They transfer ambient heat instead.
This means that on cold days the heat pump works to transfer heat (that stored in the ground with geothermal systems) indoors to heat your home. On hot days, the same system can work in reverse and remove excess heat from your home. Because geothermal systems use only a small amount of electricity in the heat transfer process and require no additional fuel source they are a very energy efficient method of heating and cooling your home.
Which Geothermal System Is Best for Your Home?
Geothermal heating and cooling systems use a ground loop to utilize ambient heat for use in your home. There are four main types of ground loops systems.
Closed loop systems circulate a liquid throughout a closed loop buried in the ground or submerged in water on your property. The heat is transferred between the refrigerant in the heat pump and the solution in this loop system.
Horizontal loop systems are usually the most cost effective installation option for residential use. Generally two pipes are buried in a trench or the pipes can be looped to fit into a shorter space.
Vertical loop systems use up less space than horizontal installations. Holes are drilled that are between 100 — 400 feet deep. Pipes are inserted and connected with a U–bend, forming a loop.
Pond or Lake systems, finally, may be the cheapest option if there is an appropriately sized body of water on the property. Coils of pipe are placed beneath the water below the freezing point and a supply line runs back to the house.
On the other hand, an open loop system uses water as the heat exchange fluid that directly circulates through the geothermal system. The water is returned to the ground after circulation. This type of system requires an adequate water supply to operate.
We want you to know your options so that you can make an informed decision. Of course, our team is here to help with that. Contact us today!
