A Comprehensive Guide to Geothermal HVAC Systems

Do you need to replace your current HVAC system in Wilmington, NC? Or maybe you’re planning ahead. No matter the case, geothermal HVAC systems should be on your radar as an option. Not only can a geothermal HVAC system supply your heating and cooling needs, but it also provides free water heating whenever you need it. Read on to learn about how geothermal HVAC systems work and their benefits for residential or commercial uses.

What’s Geothermal HVAC?

Geothermal energy is an idea that’s been around for a long time. It’s a viable alternative to heating and cooling from fossil fuels. The temperature underground ranges from 45 to 75 degrees, which geothermal HVAC uses efficiently.

This provides an opportunity for heating and cooling all year long. It’s one of the most efficient and greenest heating and cooling systems available. Not only that, but it provides a consistent level of comfort all year long.

How Does Geothermal HVAC Work?

A geothermal HVAC system has both geothermal and distribution systems. While the geothermal part of the system is responsible for transferring heat, the distribution system sends that energy elsewhere throughout your home or business.

Geothermal heat pumps use a heat exchanger to move heat from one place to another. During the winter months, the heat pump takes the natural heat from the ground and transfers it to the home. During the summer, the heat pump reverses this process by removing heat from the home or building and transferring it into the ground to cool it.

The ground loops of the geothermal system are the parts that collect or release energy into and from the ground. There are closed-loop and open-loop configurations you can choose from. Closed loops have a mix of water and refrigerant circulating through a continuous set of underground pipes.

Open loops aren’t permitted everywhere and are less common than closed loops. The open looped system takes water from a source, such as an aquifer, well, lake or pond, and discharges it once it transfers the heat to the home or business.

Benefits of Geothermal HVAC Systems

Despite the high upfront cost to install a new geothermal HVAC system, there are many benefits you’ll enjoy once it’s in place. If you decide to invest in a geothermal HVAC system, you and your family will reap the rewards for years to come. When weighing the pros and cons of having one of our professional service technicians install your new geothermal HVAC system, consider the benefits below.

Highly Efficient

A geothermal HVAC system is highly efficient as it only moves heat instead of creates it. The geothermal heat pump only uses electricity to power the circulating pumps, fan and compressor. If you’re wondering how efficient a geothermal system is, they operate between 300% and 600% efficiency, saving you up to 60% on heating costs and 50% on cooling costs than today’s heating and cooling systems.

Require Fewer Maintenance Visits

Having an HVAC system requires that you schedule maintenance to keep it in good working order and operating efficiently. Another excellent benefit that a geothermal HVAC system offers is that it has very few maintenance requirements, making it far more reliable.

The geothermal heat pumps have very few moving parts, which decreases the cost for maintenance and reduces breakdowns. The heat pump has an average lifespan of 25 years, while the ground loops last for about 50 years.

Low Impact on Environment

Whether you’re worried about your indoor air quality or the outdoor environment, a geothermal HVAC system doesn’t affect either. It’s one of the greenest power sources available and is essentially free from emissions that impact air quality and the environment.

If you’re tired of the old methods of heating and cooling your home, look no further. Contact Gideon Heating & Air Conditioning today to learn more about switching over to geothermal heating and cooling.

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