It may sound like something out of a science fiction novel, but geothermal heating and cooling is scientific fact, and what’s more, it’s been around for years. This method of both heating and cooling your home can save energy, save money over time, and possibly even help in our quest to save the planet. Here is everything you need to know about geothermal heating and cooling.
How It Works
Like your air conditioner, geothermal heating and cooling uses the principles of heat transfer to both heat and cool your home, only it does it by using the fairly stable temperature underground. No matter what the weather is doing on the surface of the Earth, the temperature underground stays pretty constant around a moderate 50 degrees, which works perfectly for both heating in cold weather and cooling in hot weather.
The key to geothermal heating and cooling is the pipes of refrigerant reaching underground. Heat is attracted to colder air, so much like with a traditional air conditioner, the pipes use a fluid known as a refrigerant to carry heat to or from your home. In the winter, the refrigerant collects the heat underground and transfers it into your home, but in the summer, it gathers the heat from your house and carries it below. You can even install an upgrade to your system that will allow you to use the principles of geothermal heating to run your household’s hot water tanks.
Advantages of Geothermal Heating and Cooling
Those pipes of refrigerant in a geothermal system carry a lot more than just heat—they also carry a lot of potential. Here are a few of the unexpected advantages of geothermal heating and cooling.
- Heat and cool your home—and heat your water, too. A significant advantage is having just one system to both heat and cool your home. With a specific upgrade your geothermal system can give you hot water, too.
- Use significantly less energy. Geothermal systems cut your current energy demands by at least 30 percent and as much as 70 percent. That’s a substantial reduction in the amount of energy used to heat and cool your home, which is one of your biggest uses of energy.
- Save money. Don’t let the high initial cost scare you away. Geothermal systems may cost a lot to buy and install, but the substantial energy savings usually repay the investment within the first few years. Heating and cooling are normally a large chunk of your utility bill, so minimizing them by this much can make a huge difference in what you pay each month.
- Save the planet. If you’re serious about reducing your carbon footprint, there’s no better way to do it than by dramatically reducing the energy you spend on keeping your home comfortable.
- Set it and forget it. Finally, it’s worth remembering that geothermal systems tend to be long-lasting. This is a long-term investment in your home, as once installed, you shouldn’t have to worry about repairs or replacements for many years.
Invest in Your Home and Your Future
Whether you’re interested in the investment in your home or benefiting from the money and energy savings down the road, geothermal heating and cooling represents the heat wave of the future. Although it uses a fairly simple principle to maintain your home’s temperature, there are a lot of specific details to work out about what kind of system your home will need. Whether you still have more questions about geothermal heat pump systems, or you’re ready to discuss installing one in your home, Maeser is here to help. Join us the forefront of heating and cooling technology—contact us today!
