How Do Geothermal Heat Pumps Work?
Many people these days are looking for ways to go green. Making little changes can really make a big impact on global warming. That’s why many people are changing from a traditional furnace and air conditioner to a geothermal heat pump system. Heat pumps are a very earth-friendly heating and cooling system. Air-powered heat pumps rely on the temperature of the air outside to provide relief inside. Geothermal heat pumps work by harnessing the heat from the earth to heat and cool your home.
To learn more about geothermal heat pumps and whether it’s a good idea to have one installed in your home, contact Redman services. Our heating and cooling professionals are happy to assess your home’s needs to determine if geothermal heating is right for you.
What Is Geothermal Heating?
Geothermal heating is the process of relying on the consistent temperature of the earth to heat or cool our homes. Although many climates in the country experience extreme temperatures at different times of the year, below the surface of the Earth, the ground tends to remain a constant temperature, typically anywhere between 45°-75°F.
A Geothermal heat pump exchanges the heat through the earth with a ground heat exchanger. Geothermal heat pumps are the most energy-efficient way to heat and cool your home. The system lifespan is estimated to be 24 years for inside components and 50 or more years for the ground coils.
How Do Geothermal Heat Pumps Work?
To understand how geothermal heat pumps work, you’ll need to know that, in order to capture the temperature of the earth, pipes need to be dug around 10 feet deep first. These pipes are filled with water or water and antifreeze. This solution is circulated in a loop below the ground to absorb the earth’s heat. When it’s cold in the winter, the earth is usually much warmer than the air, providing heat into the home.
In the summer when the air is hot, the Earth is cooler than the air, so the solution in the loop absorbs heat in the building and sends it underground where it is cooled and then circulated. This is how geothermal energy works to provide both heated and cooled air to your home.
The loops, or pipes, can be laid in a variety of ways underground depending on the landscape around your home. Some pipes are buried deep underground, while others are looped in a slinky pattern and are dug in a shallow hole.
Pros & Cons of Geothermal Heating
Now that you know how geothermal heat pumps work, you’re probably wondering the pros and cons of this green heating solution. The biggest negatives of a geothermal system is that large holes will need to be dug in your yard to install the pipes that make geothermal heating work. Once they are dug, you might need to pay to have your landscaping fixed.
The best advantage of geothermal heating is that you’ll no longer need to rely on fossil fuels to heat your home. Many customers report seeing 20%-60% savings on their utility bills. You’ll also feel good about helping the environment by making the switch to geothermal heating. Ground source heat pumps are so efficient that you’ll also cut down significantly on electricity consumption when running your heat pump.
Another downside to geothermal heat pumps is that they tend to cost a lot up front to have installed. But, because customers save so much on energy bills, many notice a payback period of 6-7 years after their initial investment.
Call Redman to Switch to a Geothermal Heat Pump
If you’re ready to start heating your home in a more efficient way, then it’s time to have a geothermal heat pump installed. Call Redman Heating, Cooling & Plumbing to learn more about geothermal heat pumps and the kind of energy savings you can expect once you have a system installed.