A geothermal system works by harnessing the constant temperature underground and pushing it into your home to keep it cool or warm.
For example, your refrigerator removes heat from inside itself and pushes it out into your kitchen. The geothermal heat pump operates in the same way, but instead of transferring heat from inside your appliance, it uses the ground around your home.
A heat pump (which is installed inside your home) pushes liquid (water or antifreeze) through long loops of pipes buried in the earth.
When you need heat, the pump will pull heat from the ground and deliver it inside your home. When you need cool air, it will do the opposite – pulling heat from your home and pushing it underground.
Some pumps can even provide hot water as well.
Pros
Cheaper to run than conventional heating and cooling methods
A benefit of the geothermal heat pump is that it’s not burning fuel to generate heat, it’s simply moving heat from one location to another.
After installation, you’ll immediately save 30 to 60 percent on your heating costs. Cooling costs will be reduced too, anywhere from 20 to 50 percent.
Temperatures underground tend to remain a pretty constant 50 degrees, so it takes little energy to heat or cool a home using this underground heat source.
Geothermal energy is clean and renewable because the earth is warmed by the sun. There are no fossil fuels, no carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide or other greenhouse gases emitted by a geothermal system.
Of course, this also means that the air quality inside your home won’t be negatively impacted by a geothermal system.
Installation of a geothermal system can be added to both new and existing homes but in some cases a retrofit including modifications to the ductwork may be needed.
There isn’t an outdoor compressor or fan so a geothermal heat pump is no louder than a refrigerator.
A geothermal heating system requires little maintenance and can last about 25 years – much less than the life span of 15 years or less for conventional heating and cooling systems.
This is because there aren’t as many moving parts and the unit is protected from the elements, extending its life.
CONS
Installation costs are high
Installing a geothermal system sounds like a fantastic way to save money…and it is…but the upfront costs are great.
Your soil type and conditions will have an impact on the cost of your system.
Other impacts on the cost of installation include:
- ⬥ Accessibility of the site
- ⬥ The configuration of the system
- ⬥ Size of the plot
- ⬥ Time needed for digging and drilling
- ⬥ If you’re installing it in an existing home some ductwork may need to be changed to accommodate the new system.
Installation can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $30,00, on average. Depending on your home and its location, and the energy rates you pay, you’ll recover your costs anywhere from four to 15 – or more – years.
Bottom line you can expect the system to cost you about 40% more than a traditional HVAC installation.
You can’t do this yourself, so you’ll absolutely need to find an installer to do it for you.
Note: In some areas, it may be impossible to find someone to install it, leaving you with no choice but to find someone out of the area (who may charge you more because of the distance).
Heavy equipment will be digging up your lawn, so be prepared to have an ugly yard until the earth settles back down.
Saving money
Sometimes you can find rebates or incentives from state, federal or even local resources to help with the cost of installing a geothermal heating system.
A geothermal system could be right for you if you:
- ⬥ Can afford the upfront costs and plan to stay in your home for some time
- ⬥ Have a pond or a well (which can reduce your installation costs because of the type of loop system used)
- ⬥ Are building a new home
- ⬥ Pay exceedingly high energy bills
