Though winter is already here, some of us are still looking around for a new or replacement heating system. You’re probably impatient to find a heating system, so you can get it installed and working before things get much colder. That’s understandable, but don’t discount better options in your rush to get your home heated. If you haven’t already considered installing a geothermal system in your home this winter, you should. Let’s take a closer look at what geothermal heating systems are, and the advantages they provide.
What Is Geothermal Heating?
A geothermal heating system is a heat pump, which means that it evaporates and condenses refrigerant to move heat from one place to another. Unlike a regular heat pump, which exchanges heat between the home and the air outside, a geothermal heat pump absorbs and vents thermal energy from the ground. It does this by using an underground pipe loop filled with water. In heating mode, the geothermal system cycles water through the unit to siphon thermal energy from underground, which it then uses to heat the home. In cooling mode, it vents heat into the underground loop to disperse it.
Advantages of Geothermal Heating
Like all heat pumps, a geothermal system can act as both a heating and air conditioning system. The unique advantage, though, is the ability to use subterranean thermal energy. Air source heat pumps get more and more inefficient as the temperature drops below freezing. The temperature at around 30 feet below ground is constant at around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. So no matter how cold it is outside, a geothermal heating system will always have access to the same amount of thermal energy.
If you’d like to know more, call Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning. We offer a full range of geothermal heating services throughout Chicago, IL.