One of the common concerns around Hyden, KY, is saving money on your heating and cooling expenses. You’ve likely heard that geothermal heat pumps offer significant efficiency improvements over standard systems. Read on to discover how heat pumps work and the various geothermal options.
Heat Pump Basics
Before jumping into the geothermal component, let’s start with exploring heat pumps more generally. These devices use a refrigerant to absorb heat in one area and transfer it to another. During the summer, it works much like an air conditioner, absorbing heat inside your home and transferring it outside.
Unlike an air conditioner, a heat pump has a reversing valve, allowing it to absorb heat from outside your home. It then transfers that heat to the air circulating around inside your home.
This heat transfer replaces the traditional heat generation required by traditional furnaces. The only energy consumed runs the pump, compressor and circulating fan. You forego the expense of creating the heat over the winter.
How Does Geothermal Work?
Geothermal is a special kind of heat pump that uses the insulative property of a geothermal source to transfer heat. Over the winter, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the geothermal source, which stays well above freezing throughout the year. Over the summer, the geothermal source typically stays below 70 degrees, making it ideal for absorbing heat.
Geothermal Options
There are generally three types of geothermal systems available. The most common is the closed loop ground source, which runs closed refrigerant lines underground, below the frost line. There is also the closed loop water source system, which runs the refrigerant lines through a deep body of water.
Finally, there’s the open loop water source system, which draws water from a well as the primary refrigerant. This is a good option if you have access to a plentiful water source that’s low in mineral content.
When it’s time to upgrade your HVAC system, explore how geothermal may benefit your home. Call to schedule a consultation with one of the geothermal heat pump installation experts at Appalachian Refrigeration, Heating & Cooling today.
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