Geothermal Guide: Some Basic Components

Geothermal heat pumps draw upon the heat of the Earth to help make your home comfortable. While the air above ground is subject to seasonal variations in temperature, the temperature is remarkably even just a few feet below ground. Geothermal heat pumps use that principle to pull heat from the earth into your house in the winter, and remove heat from your house into the ground in the summer. (In some cases, a pond or lake is used instead of the ground, but the principle it the same.) In towns like Holly Springs, they could make an extremely attractive option for home comfort.

The basic components to a geothermal system break down as follows:

• Underground Loop: The underground loop is a series of pipes planted below the earth (or sometimes placed in a pond or a lake). Water or antifreeze circulates through the loop and absorbs heat from the ground to take into your home (or discharges heat into the ground if you’re trying to cool your home).
• Geothermal Heat Pump: A heat pump then transfers the heat from the loop into the wintertime and moves it into your home, then reverses the process in the summer time. Heat pumps in geothermal systems can also be used to heat the water in your home.
• Ductwork or some similar air delivery system: This serves the same purpose as the ductwork in a traditional central air conditioning system: to distribute the hot or cool air efficiently throughout your home. If your geothermal system was installed in a home with a previously existing AC system, it might actually use the same ducts as that earlier system. However, you might need different size ducts, so you should consult a professional before deciding to use your current ductwork.

Geothermal systems aren’t right for every home, but if the conditions work and you’re willing to pay a higher up-front cost, you can save a great deal on monthly energy bills. Not only can they cool your home more efficiently, but they do so without generating the kind of pollution that traditional systems do. If you’re interested in a geothermal system for your home in Holly Springs or any of the nearby communities, contact the experts at Raleigh Heating & Air. We can explain your options and help you determine what’s right for your home, then perform an installation with an eye on your complete satisfaction.