If you’re building or remodeling, you may have wondered if a geothermal heat pump would work in your situation.
While they can be expensive to install, heat pumps are very economical because they use the stable temperature of the earth, a few feet below ground level, to provide cooling in the summer and warmth in the winter.
How much money you would save depends on many factors– electric power rates, the climate in your area, what type of system you choose, the size of your home, etc.
Many options in heat pumps
There are basically two types of heat pumps: air-source (which transfers heat from outside to inside, or vice versa), and geothermal, which draws heat from the ground or a nearby pond or river. A system that combines the two is not as efficient to operate as a geothermal stand-alone, but will cost much less to install. An air-source system is the least expensive to install but also the least efficient.
Geothermal units consist of great loops of piping, buried underground. Construction can be expensive. But since the underground loop has a life expectancy of 50 years (inside components, 25 years), you would definitely see a payback on your investment, probably within a few years.
Once installed, it takes very little energy to power a geothermal system. You’ll withdraw heat from the ground when it’s needed, and transfer heat to the ground during hot weather.
Open loop, closed loop: what’s the deal?
There are four types of ground-loop systems (the most economical to operate). Three are closed-loop systems, which circulate a refrigerant through piping underground or under water; the fourth is an open-loop system which requires an ample supply of fresh water.
1. The horizontal installation is most common for residential applications, especially new construction.
2. A vertical installation sends the piping deep and requires less land area. This is favored for commercial buildings.
3. A third option is to run the piping through a water body such as a pond or lake.
4. In the fourth option, the open-loop system uses well water or surface water as the heat exchange fluid.
If you think geothermal would work in your situation, you can find more information at the following sources:
Video tutorial on heat pump.
Ductless, mini-split heat pump information from Energy.gov.
Climate zone map from WaterHeaterTimer.org:
Compare heat pump brands on the ACDoctor website.