Geothermal systems are one of the most exciting home comfort options available today. Using the natural power of the earth, they provide clean, efficient energy that creates zero greenhouse gases or ozone-depleting product. They also run with a minimum of noise pollution and offer year-round dependability because they rely on the steady temperature of the earth. And even though they can have high installation costs, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that with their energy-efficient performance, they pay for themselves in only 5 to 10 years.
Our customers frequently ask us how geothermal systems operate. “How can I get both heating and cooling from the ground?” Yes, it does sound a bit strange—but geothermal heat pumps aren’t as complicated as you might imagine. We’ll try to give you a succinct answer to the common queries about the operation of geothermal heat pumps.
If you are interested in getting a geothermal system in Evanston, IL, contact Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning.
We’ve been around since 1904, so we were already hard at work heating and cooling homes when geothermal systems were first developed.
Geothermal Heat Pumps 101
A geothermal heat pump works similarly to a standard heat pump: it moves heat from one place and puts it in another; i.e. “heat exchange.” However, a geothermal heat pump uses the earth as its heat exchange medium instead of the outside air. It takes heat from the earth and moves it indoors during the winter, and reverses the process in the summer. Because the temperature of the earth remains at a steady 55°F only 10 feet below the surface, no matter the season, a geothermal heat pump always has the right temperature from which to work.
To move the heat, a geothermal system uses loops of plastic tubes or copper pipes buried in trenches beneath your property. An antifreeze solution or refrigerant passes through these loops to transfer the heat from the ground up into your home. Changing the direction of the flow of the heat exchange solution also reverses the process and moves heat from your home and puts in into the ground, giving you a cooler indoor temperature. Because geothermal systems require extensive trench-digging and intricate connections, installing them isn’t something you should entrust to amateurs. If you want to receive the superior benefits of a geothermal system, you need to have it installed professionally.
Call Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning for heating service in Evanston, IL: we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee and also a Lifetime Workmanship Warranty.