Pros and Cons of Geothermal Heat Pumps

Geothermal heat pumps offer powerful heating and cooling of your Dawn, Texas, home in an environmentally friendly manner. These quiet, durable, and energy-efficient systems can save you money in energy costs and maintenance but can be a little costly to install.

How Do Geothermal Heat Pumps Work?

Underground temperatures remain mostly stable throughout the year, at around 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, depending upon your location. In winter, geothermal heat pumps transfer this heat to your home, using loops of underground pipes filled with liquid. In summer, they reverse the process to transfer the heat from your home to the earth. Since the underground temperature is closer to the desired room temperature, there is a substantial saving in energy costs.

Types of Geothermal Heat Pumps

Geothermal systems can be with horizontal, vertical, or open loop configurations. In horizontal loop systems, the loop is not deep into the ground but rather spread over a wide area. Vertical loop systems, on the other hand, require extensive excavation, since the loop is bored deep into the earth. Open loop systems pull groundwater through one well and return it through another, where the water percolates back to replenish the groundwater.

Benefits of Geothermal Heat Pumps

Geothermal heat pumps are extremely energy-efficient; they substantially cut down your energy costs. They offer quiet operation since there is no outdoor fan required to dissipate heat to the outside environment. They are environmentally friendly because they don’t involve combustion to heat your home. They require very low maintenance and last longer than conventional heat pumps. The indoor components have a lifespan of about 25 years, while the underground loop can last for over 50 years.

Disadvantages of Geothermal Heat Pumps

High installation cost is the only deterring factor in geothermal units. It involves heavy drilling and digging. However, you can recoup the installation cost over a period of four to 15 years.

Installing a geothermal system requires detailed sizing, design, and site study. We at Grizzle Heating and Air have been installing geothermal systems for years, and we’ll be glad to do it for you. Call us at 806-553-4690.

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