A Simple Guide to Geothermal Energy Heating and Cooling
A reliable heating and cooling system is essential for every home and business. Advantage Air HVAC offers geothermal energy heating and cooling, also known as ground-source heat pumps (GHPs), which is an alternative to conventional furnaces and air conditioning.
If you’re interested in geothermal services, it’s helpful to understand what they are, how they work, and their various benefits.
What Is Geothermal Energy Heating and Cooling?
Geothermal energy heating and cooling systems use the Earth’s consistent temperature to heat or cool a home or business. This way, no matter what the weather is above ground, several feet below the surface is always between 50-55°F. Pipe loops filled with water and antifreeze take heat from the ground when the air temperature is colder and return it to your space for distribution via ductwork.
When the temperatures are soaring mid-summer, the heat pumps transfer warm air from your home, and the loop disperses it into the ground.
What Are Closed-Loop Systems?
Many closed-loop systems use a heat exchanger to transfer heat between the coolant in the heat pump and the antifreeze in the loop. Direct exchange systems use a closed loop and pump refrigerant through copper tubing instead of a heat exchanger.
Closed-loop setups are available in horizontal or vertical orientations or can be underwater.
What Are Underground Horizontal & Vertical Closed-Loops?
Horizontal loops are a cost-effective choice for most residential systems. Two pipe layouts are available: one places a pipe four feet below ground and the other six feet below ground, and the second places the pipes side-by-side five feet underground in a two-foot-wide trench.
Vertical layouts work well for commercial buildings, schools, or areas where the soil isn’t deep enough for trenching. Four-inch-diameter holes are dug 20 feet apart to a depth of 100- 400 feet. The pipes form a loop using a U-bend, and the loops connect with horizontal pipes.
What Are Pond/Lake Closed Loop Systems?
Places with bodies of water, like lakes or ponds, that meet specific depth, volume, and quality standards can use geothermal energy for heating and cooling. A line runs underground from the home or business to the water and is coiled so installers can lay a sufficient length of pipe.
In areas that can freeze, like Lexington, Kentucky, our expert technicians submerge the pipes about eight feet underground to prevent them from freezing.
Benefits of Geothermal Heating and Cooling
Geothermal energy heating and cooling offer significant advantages, including:
- It’s a renewable resource.
- It doesn’t require imported oil or other fossil fuels.
- It’s a clean energy source that doesn’t emit greenhouse gasses.
- It can provide savings on your heating and cooling costs.
- Its lifespan for in-home components is about 25 years, and underground elements can last up to 50 years.
Find Geothermal Energy Heating and Cooling Near Lexington, KY
If you’re ready to replace your current heating system with a more reliable, less expensive option, we encourage you to consider geothermal heating and cooling. At Advantage Air HVAC, we have served the community since 2007 with combined industry experience of over 32 years.
Contact us online or call (859) 559-6409 to determine if geothermal energy is right for your home or business. Advantage Air HVAC is locally owned and operated in Lexington, Kentucky, and is happy to serve Lexington, Georgetown, Paris, Winchester, Frankfort, and the surrounding areas.
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