Even though it’s a technology that’s been around for a long time, there are still quite a few misconceptions surrounding geothermal heating and cooling. As a result, here in Mooresville, NC, homeowners looking for the most efficient HVAC solution for their homes often overlook geothermal as a viable option. Here at Putnam Mechanical, we specialize in geothermal HVAC systems, so we know what an amazing HVAC option they are. So, we thought it’s necessary to clear up the confusion about one major aspect of geothermal HVAC systems: their ability to serve as a complete solution to a home’s heating and cooling needs. Here’s everything you need to know.
How Does Geothermal Heating and Cooling Work?
Geothermal HVAC systems are often confused with geothermal energy, which involves generating electricity from the heat generated beneath the Earth’s crust. However, geothermal HVAC isn’t the same thing. It doesn’t rely on heat from beneath the Earth’s crust but rather relies on the stability of the temperature just below its surface.
Here in Mooresville, NC, the temperature just a few feet below the ground stays at approximately 55 degrees Fahrenheit all year round. A geothermal HVAC system can take advantage of that because it’s a temperature that’s far below the air temperature in the summer and far above it in the winter. By circulating refrigerant through a series of underground pipes, a geothermal HVAC system can capture heat energy to heat your home in the winter and expel heat energy from your home in the summer, cooling it down.
Can Geothermal HVAC Provide Enough Heating and Cooling Alone?
One of the common misconceptions about geothermal HVAC systems is that they can’t be a home’s only source of heating and cooling capacity. Since homeowners know that geothermal HVAC systems use heat pumps to function, they often conflate them with air-source heat pump technology. Those systems tend to struggle to produce sufficient heat in sub-freezing temperatures. However, geothermal heat pumps don’t suffer from that problem.
A geothermal HVAC system can not only provide all the heat and air conditioning your home needs, but it can also do it at a fraction of the operating cost of conventional HVAC systems. That’s because today’s geothermal HVAC systems operate at up to 500% energy efficiency rates. That’s more than five times better than the best gas-powered furnace on the market today.
And geothermal systems also beat conventional air conditioners since they don’t have to fight against scorching outdoor temperatures to expel the heat from inside your home. That’s why, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average geothermal heat pump system uses between 25% to 50% less electricity than a comparable conventional HVAC system.
So, What’s the Catch?
The only significant drawbacks of geothermal HVAC systems are their up-front cost and the amount of work it takes to install them. This is because a geothermal HVAC system requires a large buried pipe loop system to operate. If your home sits on a large parcel of land, it’s usually possible to install the piping system horizontally, which is the most cost-effective method. If you don’t have that kind of space, vertically installed pipe loops provide the same heating and cooling capacity but require more work to install. Either way, the installation of the infrastructure needed for a geothermal HVAC system is a significant investment.
However, there’s a silver lining: The average geothermal HVAC pipe loop system should last for 50 years or more. That means that once you’ve made the initial investment, it’ll keep providing value even as you replace your system’s cheaper above-ground components. As a result, geothermal HVAC systems can end up saving you significant sums in the long run and can even increase the value of your home.
Consult the Geothermal Experts
The most important takeaway here is that, yes, geothermal HVAC can absolutely provide adequate heating and cooling for your Mooresville, NC, home. Plus, it’ll do so reliably and far more efficiently than any other kind of HVAC system. So, the next time your home needs its HVAC system replaced, be sure to ask about a geothermal system. And when that time comes, Putnam Mechanical stands ready to help. Our expert HVAC technicians have over 75 years of combined experience, and we’re the premier provider of geothermal HVAC solutions in this area. Plus, we offer complete HVAC installation, repair and maintenance services, covering all makes and models of conventional HVAC systems. We even offer electrical and commercial services, too!
So, to learn more about geothermal HVAC systems, or if you have any other residential or commercial HVAC needs, call on the experts at Putnam Mechanical. We’ll be happy to help.
