Geothermal Heating and Cooling
Annual Expense on a Typical Geothermal Unit
| House Sq. Footage | Geothermal Utility Bill | Your Bill Today | |
| 2000 SQ Feet | $600 | $4000 | |
| 3000 SQ Feet | $900 | $6000 | |
| 4000 SQ Feet | $1200 | $9000 | |
| 5000 SQ Feet | $1500 | $12000 |
Utility Bills Are Going Up
GeoThermal pays for Itself
- a heat pump
- a ground loop
- a heat transfer fluid (water or antifreeze solution)
- an air distribution system
When installed correctly, geothermal systems generally require very little repair for 20-25 years. For optimal performance, homeowners should keep system ducts and air filters clean, and change / clean filters according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
Geothermal Heating and Cooling - Benefits
- Transfer three to four units of energy into a home for every one unit of electricity it uses;
- Provide at least two thirds of the energy needed to heat a home. This can lead to savings of 30 to 70 per cent of a homeowners heating costs;
- Produce less carbon dioxide and atmospheric pollutants than conventional heating and cooling systems;
- Run cleaner than traditional heating and cooling systems;
- Do not require an additional fuel delivery system to the home in addition to electricity and do not require venting of combustion products from a furnace.
Geothermal Energy - Adding to an Existing Furnace
A dual system can be added to an existing furnace to provide a dual-fuel
heating system, where the heat pump is the main source of heating and the
combustion furnace provides supplementary heat during extreme cold.
Geothermal Energy - System Noise Control
A geothermal system is one of the quietest systems available. The indoor
components are all sound-insulated and sound dampeners eliminate vibration
noise where the pump connects to the ductwork. The minimal noise produced
by underground components is undetectable to the homeowner.
You will need an HVAC dealer to size and install your geothermal heat pump on the inside of your home. You will also need a quality geothermal loop installer to do the outside work and bring the piping in to your furnace.
Some important things to consider in choosing the right geothermal contractor:
- The United States Dept of Energy states "because of the technical knowledge and equipment needed to properly install the piping of a geothermal heat pump system, installation is not a do it yourself project.
- Don't assume that all installers do work of equal quality.
- Make sure your furnace installer has done a thorough heat/loss calculation on your home. This will take into consideration all factors -home location, number of windows, number of doors, depth of insulation, and other factors in determining the size furnace and loop field you will need.
- Quality HVAC dealers run a detailed, computerized heat/loss program to determine size of loop and furnace that will most efficiently run in your home. If your HVAC dealer says "I can eyeball that" or "from my experience I believe your house needs a 4 ton" - Run away ... far, far, away! Demand a quality loop contractor. Most loop contractors sub out to the homeowner or HVAC dealer and it can be your decision which loop contractor you would like to employ.
- Check both the HVAC and Loop Contractor's qualifications (IGSHPA - International Ground Source Heat Pump Association) and affiliations. Years in business, years in geo, number of installations, and customer testimonials are also very important.
- Don't be afraid to ask questions. Most geothermal contractors are a wealth of information. Take a little time to do research online, jot down some notes and then spend time getting comfortable with your installer.
Hope these suggestions are helpful. You'll be glad you did your "homework" as you enjoy a new, properly sized and installed, efficiently running, geothermal heating and cooling system.
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