Geothermal Heating Explained
You’re building a new home or looking to upgrade your existing one and want to take the right steps to ensure it is energy efficient. You’ve also heard about ground source heating and cooling systems and like the idea of using the natural heat below the earth’s surface to condition your home. But you need to know more.
Lancaster Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical has knowledgeable and experienced geothermal heating and cooling technicians who can install an energy-saving geothermal system for your home.
Spare Me the Sales Pitch – How Does It Work?
While the ambient temperature of the earth’s surface regularly fluctuates, just six feet under, it remains constant. A closed-loop geothermal system takes advantage of that consistent temperature by employing a geothermal heat pump to circulate a water/methanol mix of fluid through a series of underground loops of plastic pipe near your home.
During the winter season, through the process of conduction, the fluid takes on the heat stored underground and carries it up to provide heat for your home. Just the reverse occurs in the summer. That same heat pump (an obvious misnomer) takes the heat from the air in your home and transfers it to the fluid where it circulates back underground and dissipates out.
How Does Geothermal Compare to Traditional Heating and Cooling Systems?
We’ll make it easy and list some here:
- Lower Energy Usage and Costs
- Less Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Geothermal is a Quieter System
- Less Expensive Components
- Geothermal Systems Typically Last Longer than Traditional Systems
But don’t just take our word for it. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that GHP systems are the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective space conditioning systems available.
So What’s the Catch?
There always is one, isn’t there? Geothermal installations do cost more. A lot more. However, the significant energy savings will typically result in recouping your investment in about ten years.
And if you love your home and plan on living there for some time, it may be well worth the investment.
For your geothermal heating installation, contact Lancaster Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical at (717) 207-8198! We are here to give you optimal heating for your ideal home comfort.
