Many homeowners in the Gaithersburg area have begun to hear about geothermal heating and air conditioning systems. At Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating, we’ve been offering geothermal services for many years. We’ve helped lots of homeowners start to take advantage of the benefits of geothermal technology. We get asked a lot about how exactly geothermal systems work. We thought it would be helpful if we put together a quick description of how they work and how they can potentially save you money.
The Ground Loop
10 feet below the surface of the earth the temperature is about 55° F. It remains this temperature throughout the year no matter what temperature the air is above ground. Geothermal systems use this consistent temperature to heat and cool your home. They take advantage of this using a series of coils filled with a water/refrigerant mix buried in the ground.
The Heat Pump
A heat pump in your home is responsible for circulating the refrigerant through the coils and then exchanging heat with the refrigerant through a condensing coil. In heating mode, the coils absorb heat from the ground and carry it to the condensing coil in the heat pump. The heat pump blows cool air from your home across the coils, extracting heat from them and carrying it into the house. In cooling mode, the condensing coils in the heat pump extract heat from the air in your home and then deposit it into the ground.
Geothermal Benefits
Gas fired furnaces and boilers burn fuel to create heat. One of the main benefits to geothermal systems is that in heating mode they don’t need to consume any fuel. They use the free and unlimited energy stored in the ground to heat and cool your home. This allows them to achieve very high levels of efficiency by reducing the amount of energy they use to heat your home. The only energy they require is the electricity to run the heat pump inside your home.
Geothermal Restrictions
Because geothermal systems work because of a series of coils buried in the ground, there are space limitations. Geothermal loops can be installed both horizontally and vertically in the ground. However, if your property doesn’t have sufficient space, a geothermal system might not be appropriate.
If you’re interested in learning more about geothermal systems and if they’re an option for your home in Gaithersburg, contact the experts at Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating. We have years of experience installing, repairing and maintaining geothermal systems. Give us a call today!