If you’re planning on installing a new heating and cooling system for your home, seriously consider a geothermal system rather than a traditional forced-air gas-fired furnace or electric air conditioning unit. Geothermal heating and cooling systems are roughly twice to three times as efficient, and can even be used to heat your water, eliminating that expense in summer months and halving it in winter months.

Geothermal heat pumps work by using the more consistent temperature of the earth a few feet below the surface to regulate the highs and lows of a normal temperate climate. When it is very hot in the summer, a geothermal system uses the relatively cool earth a few feet down to cool your home. Conversely, when it is very cold in the winter, the earth’s temperature below the surface is much warmer, and this warmth is conducted into your home. Geothermal systems collect this heating and cooling through a long series of tubes buried in the ground; the temperature of the earth is conducted through the tubes and into water or an antifreeze liquid inside, which is then circulated throughout your home.

Geothermal heat pumps come in many configurations, the most common of which is a horizontal or vertical closed or open loop system. Many factors contribute to what type of system you should use for your home:

• Home size. Larger homes require more tubing, so a horizontal system would probably work better because it can spread out far and wide instead of having to dig deep down in a vertical system.
• New home vs. an older home. An existing home may want to use a vertical system since it requires less ground disturbance.
• Soil type. Different soil configurations conduct heating and cooling differently and thus affect the size requirement of your geothermal heating system.

Geothermal heating systems require professional site evaluation and installation. The initial cost is much higher than a traditional forced-air system, but with a vastly increased efficiency, and the continued rise of energy sources like natural gas and electricity, a geothermal heating system is an investment that will pay handsomely down the road. The pump itself, which is easy to replace, is usually guaranteed for 25 years, and the tubing system for 50. Compare that with the average forced-air system, which usually lasts 10 -15 years.

This article was featured in the Carnival of Everything Home at My DIY Home Tips.

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