If there is something this generation is blessed with is choices and options. Ranging from car models to houses and everything else that money can buy. Even in heating and air conditioning, there are lots of choices. You can go for ductless mini splits, heat pumps, furnaces, central air conditioners, window ACs and many others depending on your budget, preference and home needs. A geothermal heat pump is one of the most innovative types of heat pumps because of the efficiency in heating and cooling. These heat pumps are considered ecofriendly because they draw their heat from their ground instead of exhaustible resources.
In some areas, a geothermal heat pump can service everything you need in the heating and cooling domain. However, in some other places, you may have to pair a geothermal heat pump with a gas furnace or even electric backup heat. This is to ensure you enjoy efficient performance as well as superior home comfort.
The first step in buying a geothermal heat pump is first to assess whether it is right for your home. Inasmuch as geothermal heat pumps have been praised all across the industry, there are some costs that come with this heating and cooling method that you need to consider in your budgeting. This is why it is critical to examine your options so as to find the best HVAC method that fits your lifestyle.
Understanding Geothermal Heat Pumps and their Design
These are heat pumps that use the natural heat that comes from the earth as their fuel source to either heat or cool your home. This is unlike the other heat pumps that are air source. There are three or four main components that define geothermal heat pumps. In a three piece configuration, there are ground heat exchanger loop, the ductwork and the indoor unit. On the other hand, a four piece configuration has the ground heat exchanger loop, air handler, compressor section, and ductwork.
The heat exchanger ground loop fields come in two variations; the water source and the direct geo-exchange. The water source utilizes water pumps, refrigerant to water heat exchangers as well as a tubing that is buried to the ground. The geo-exchange variant has a copper refrigerant tubing directly into the earth. According to experts, the direct geo-exchange variety is the one which is more efficient in heat transfer.
Costs of Geothermal Heat Pumps
The main cost of these systems is installation. Because of the underground nature of their loop system, trenches and boreholes must be dug to install the underground tubing. Their installation can be upwards of $10,000. The benefit of these systems is the operating cost which can be about $450 per year. They also last up to 50 years.