Heat pumps are a common way for homes to receive warmthb but they do come with a caution. Because a heat pump must siphon heat from the air outdoors to provide the heat for the indoors, the deep cold temperature will sometimes cut into the energy efficiency of the heat pump.
However, geothermal heat pumps (also known as ground-source heat pumps) do not run into this trouble during the winter. They are one of the most reliable types of heating systems regardless of the frigid temperature outdoors, and offer a level of savings that surpasses standard heat pumps as well as furnaces, both gas and electric.
How Geothermal Heating Works So Well in Winter
A geothermal heat pump draws heat from outside of a home, the same way as a standard heat pump. The difference is where outside of the house it pulls the heat. A geothermal heat pump uses underground loops filled with a mixture of water and antifreeze to draw heat, which then passes through a heat exchanger to send the heat to the refrigerant the circulates through the indoor parts of the heat pump.
The loops are buried deep enough that the frost on the ground doesnb t reach them. No matter how cold the ground may seem to us during the winter, deeper than 5 feet it maintains an almost constant temperature between 45B0F and 50B0F thanks to the heat radiating up from the earthb s core. Thatb s more than enough warmth to let the geothermal heat pump work without additional strain. And during the summer, itb s cool enough to allow for the easy depositing of heat when the geothermal system is in cooling mode. Youb ll enjoy efficient home comfort all year.
To find out more about arranging for geothermal heating and cooling for your house, contact our team of HVAC professionals.
Comfort Central, Inc. serves Brevard, NC and the rest of Wester North Carolina with superb heating and air conditioning.