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An Easy Guide to Geothermal Heating and Cooling

What Does the Term Geothermal Mean?

Because of the ongoing debate about climate change and energy policy, most people are more aware than ever of the options for energy that aren't fossil fuel-based. One of the things that often gets overlooked, however, are the options that are available for small-scale installations for homes. Geothermal is commonly advertised as a renewable energy source for grid-scale installations, but it also has massive benefits for reducing energy usage for homes. 

Geothermal means "earth's heat." The earth's core is made of molten rock that generates heat miles below the surface that one can use for grid-scale energy generation. For smaller systems, like geothermal heating and cooling systems, geothermal simply means tapping into the stable temperatures underneath the ground, between 8 and 500 feet deep, as a source of energy or a heat sink. 

How Do Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems Work?

A geothermal heating and cooling system are similar to a heat pump, except it uses physics to accomplish the same thing more efficiently. In a heat pump and geothermal system, heat is absorbed into the refrigerant in a coil as air passes over it. At that point, the refrigerant has to move the heat either indoors or outdoors, depending on the season. One must remove the heat so the refrigerant can be recycled and used again to heat and cool the home. The main difference between geothermal systems and heat pumps is where the heat ends up, either in the air or in the earth. 

Geothermal systems still use blowers and ductwork like a conventional heating and cooling system. The main difference is a group loop system and a pump that circulates water through the ground loop to deposit or absorb heat. This makes them incredibly more efficient than any other heating and cooling system, with the only slight disadvantage being the higher upfront cost of digging the group loop. 

Types of Geothermal Heat Pump Systemstypes

The ground loop is the biggest feature of a geothermal system, and four different types exist to accommodate factors like climate, soil type, and space. The four types of ground loops are:

  • Horizontal: Theis cheap buried closed-loop option is useful in areas with ample space. 
  • Vertical: Requires drilling holes up to 400 feet deep. These closed-loop systems are great for places with limited space for ground loops. 
  • Pond: This is the cheapest option if ponds are available because no excavation is required. Pipes are simply run in loops through the existing pond to act as a heat sink. 
  • Open-Loop: These require a well with ample supplies of clean water. They can be a great option if no other options are available. 

Benefits of Geothermal Systemssave

Geothermal systems are more expensive upfront, but the benefits make up for this. Geothermal systems are 400% more efficient than other cooling systems, including heat pumps. Some of the reasons why they are consistently chosen in new construction are: 

  • Energy savings
  • Eco-friendly operation
  • Quiet operation
  • Reliability
  • Fewer repairs
  • Greater longevity
  • Consistent comfort 

About Easco Air Conditioning and Heating

Easco Air Conditioning and Heating have over 30 years of experience helping its clients understand heating and cooling efficiency. As local geothermal experts, they offer honest recommendations and emergency services. Call today for upfront pricing on geothermal installations in Conroe, TX. 

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What Is Geothermal Heating & Cooling?

Exploring Geothermal Heating and Cooling

A term that isn’t common to the public ear is geothermal heating and cooling. It sounds out of this world but it is actually the opposite. Many people use this method for their homes and businesses and it has become a much more common practice. Geothermal heating and cooling is a method of temperature regulation that uses the earth to heat and cool houses and buildings.

The methods of geothermal heating and cooling are common and could become much more wide-spread for temperature regulation in years to come. This article will discuss how it works and whether it’s a good option for your home, if you are looking to replace your air conditioning system.

What Is Geothermal Heating and Cooling?

As mentioned above, a geothermal system may seem out of this world, but it is actually quite the opposite. It features an efficient way to heat and cool houses and buildings using the temperature from just underneath the Earth's surface. During the wintertime, the ground underneath the houses is much warmer than the outside air.

what is geothermal

This warmth is captured through temperature conducting pipelines and tubing that flows hundreds of feet down and transfers heat to people's homes from the earth. This is not only for the cold wintery months but also for the hot summer months as well. The Earth's crust tends to rest at a cooler temperature compared to the outside air. The cool core is used to cool down houses during the blistery hot months.

The Geothermal Benefits

geothermal benefitsThere are several benefits for geothermal heating and cooling. One of the most recognizable benefits is the environmental benefit. The system doesn’t burn any fossil fuels to maintain energy systems but instead uses heat energy from the natural earth and sun interaction.

Geothermal heating and cooling systems are considered a renewable resource because it takes the natural heat of the earth's surface around 50 to 60 degrees, and uses this to the heat pump's advantage.

Another benefit is that it is a reliable and efficient renewable energy source that is available all year round. Some geothermal heating and cooling systems can be even more than 45 percent efficient than regular heating and cooling systems throughout the year.

The thermal system adapts to the time of year and can help prevent the house and floors from being too hot in the summertime and too cold in the wintertime. All of this regulation is done in one system that is efficient and uses the earth's natural resources.

An Added Bonus: Geothermal Systems Are Creating Jobs

With the world slowly starting to shift from fossil fuel energy to reusable energy, there is an entirely new economy that has opened up. Switching to geothermal systems allows for more jobs in this innovative sector and more experts to arise.

creating jobs

Overall, this will help the economy and have an important impact on the future of energy systems. Even major companies are starting to seek out geothermal systems in order to fuel their businesses nationwide.

Trust a Local HVAC Pro!

Easco Air Conditioning and Heating located in Conroe, TX provides a wide variety of quick and affordable HVAC repair and maintenance services. With a team of trusted professionals and over 30 years of expertise, they can help maintain your HVAC system for years to come.

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