Geothermal heating and cooling have been around for a long time, but with recent advancements in technology and products, it has become an increasingly popular way for homeowners to both heat and cool their homes. Geothermal systems offer a lot of benefits to homeowners and understanding how the systems work will help you gain an appreciation for this unique heating and cooling system. If you are concerned about the environment and want to have a sustainable and reusable fuel source for your heating, a geothermal system may be just what you’ve been waiting for. One thing to keep in mind is that the installation of geothermal systems requires professional knowledge and expertise, so call the people you can trust: Intelligent Air Services.
How Does a Geothermal System Work?
A geothermal system harnesses the steady temperature of the Earth just below the frost line to heat and cool your home. It does this via a ground loop made of very durable tubing that is buried in the ground of your yard. The tubing is filled with a solution that helps to absorb the heat from the Earth during the winter. A heat pump is used to facilitate the transfer of heat: in the winter, the heat pump takes the heat absorbed by the ground loop, concentrates it, and delivers it to the indoors of your home; in the summer, the heat pump transfers your indoor heat into the ground loop, where the Earth acts as a “heat sink” and absorbs the heat. There are no fossil fuels used by a geothermal system, and only a small amount of electricity is used for the heat pump.
Benefits of a Geothermal System
In addition to providing both heating and cooling, geothermal systems offer other important benefits:
- Long lifespan – the tubing for geothermal systems lasts 25-50 years, and the heat pumps last an average of 20-25 years. In comparison, combustion heating systems last about 15-20 years.
- Very energy efficient – as stated above, geothermal systems use no fossil fuels and a very small amount of electricity, making them very energy efficient.
- Very environmentally friendly – the small amount of electricity used for the heat pump, coupled with no greenhouse gas release, makes geothermal heating and cooling very environmentally friendly.
- Comfortable heating and cooling – the air delivered in a geothermal system enter your home in a continuous, low-level flow. This makes both cooling and heating gradual and very comfortable.
Geothermal systems have tremendous longevity, energy efficiency, and comfort. Think your home can benefit from geothermal heating? Then call the Austin, TX heating experts at Intelligent Air Services today!