Geothermal energy is an expanding field, and each year it becomes easier to set up geothermal heat pumps to provide comfort for homes. If you’re thinking about replacing the old HVAC system in your house this fall, or you are purchasing a new house and haven’t decided on how to provide residential heating and cooling, using a geothermal system may be on the list of possibilities.
But … is going geothermal feasible for you? Affordable? Let’s take a closer look at geothermal to help address these concerns.
The Basics of Geothermal Heat Pumps
A geothermal heat pump is like a standard (or air-source) heat in that it circulates refrigerant to remove heat from one location and then deposit it in another. The difference with a geothermal (or ground-source) heat pump is it uses the heat underground as the medium for the heat exchange. In heating mode, a geothermal heat pump extracts heat through the underground loops and moves it to the indoor refrigerant, where it exhausts the heat to the inside of the house. In cooling mode, the loops deposit heat removed from the house into the ground, using the ground as a heat sink.
Geothermal Heat Pumps Offer Many Benefits
What are the advantages of using the ground for heat exchange? Why go through this process in the first place? There are plenty of advantages:
- Energy efficiency: The ground 6 to 10’ below the frost line—which is where the geothermal loops are placed—remains stable regardless no matter the weather. Whether it’s 100°F or down in the negatives, the temperature available to the ground loops hovers around 50°F. This allows for more efficient heating and cooling than using the outside air. Geothermal heat pumps can work at 4 to 5 times greater efficiency than standard heat pumps, and this gives them a short payback period.
- Longevity: The internal components of a geothermal heat pump can last as long as a standard heat pump. But the ground loops can last for more than 50 years—and this is the most expensive part to install. You can expect a geothermal installation to provide you with years of great energy savings.
- Environmentally friendly: A geothermal system lowers a home’s carbon footprint and reduces the number of emissions.
Will Geothermal Even Work for Your House?
We can’t answer this in a blog post. Our technicians need to look over your home and property to determine this. What we can tell you here is geothermal systems are flexible and easier to install for a wider range of homes than ever before. Our technicians will also help you find out if a geothermal installation works with your budget and how short the payback period is.
You’ll need an HVAC contractor experienced with geothermal installation in Des Moines, IA, to help you choose between putting in a geothermal heat pump for your home and property. If you want a service provider who will treat you and your home like their own, then call our offices today.
Golden Rule offers full geothermal system installation and other services. Speak to one of our specialists to find out more.
