For an HVAC contractor in Grand Rapids, MN, this is a great place to install a geothermal heating and cooling system. These can not only save significant costs on energy bills each month, but they also provide clean renewable energy. Whether you are considering geothermal or don’t know much about it, here is your chance to learn more about this green system and how it can benefit your home.
The general theory
Outdoor temperatures change by season and even day to day. Conventional HVAC works to counter the outdoor temperature by burning fossil fuels or using electricity. If there is a very hot summer or very cold winter, utility bills can escalate quickly.
Geothermal systems work with underground temperatures. These do not change as much, as the Earth is well insulated and the underground is not exposed to weather elements. About four to six feet beneath the surface, the temperatures stay pretty constant throughout the year.
The geothermal system includes an outdoor handling unit and a system of pipes underground, called the Earth loop. This system catches the free energy underground and uses it heat and cool your home. The pipe layout is adjusted to the characteristics of the site. An open loop system, the most common option, is installed if the HVAC contractor has access to an aquifer. Connected to a well, water is pumped through the pipes, run past a heat exchange and then returned to the aquifer. This process moves heat or cooling to your home.
How this heats—and cools
The system contains a heat-pump unit, the liquid heat-exchange unit (with open or closed loop), ductwork and radiant heating in the floor or elsewhere. In some ways, it works similarly to a regular heat pump but without burning fossil fuels.
In winter, the water moves through the pipes, absorbs the heat stored in the ground and carries it to an indoor unit. That component compresses this heat and distributes it through your home. For hot summer days, it is the same system, but running in reverse. The HVAC setup pulls the heat from your home and then returns it to the Earth, leading to an instantly cooler indoor environment.
Benefits to your home
Homes with geothermal HVAC see a reduction in their heating, cooling and water costs by 80 percent. It can be installed anywhere and people often enjoy the idea of an Earth-friendly HVAC option that emits no greenhouse gases.
The only disadvantage to geothermal systems is the extensive installation. The systems of pipes and new equipment can be very complex and if there are challenges with the site, construction can take longer. It can also be more expensive, but most people find the long-term costs pay for the installation very quickly.
Rapids Heating & Plumbing Inc. is an HVAC contractor in Grand Rapids, MN with experience in geothermal heating and cooling. We are available to answer your questions and provide estimates if you decide to go this route in your energy usage. Give us a call today for more information on the geothermal option for a cozy home in winter and a cool one in summer.