When you think of a geothermal system, what do you first envision? It’s probably a massive set of ground loops buried in a wide expanse of property. That might sound like a project that’s out of reach for you in terms of space, time, and expense. Geothermal sure sounds nice, but it’s not something you think is viable.
We would love to prove you wrong! We can’t say for 100% certain if a geothermal system will work for your household, but using geothermal HVAC is increasingly possible for more and more homes. It’s worth investigating because the rewards of geothermal are tremendous.
Several Considerations for a Geothermal System
There are several factors that can determine if going geothermal is a viable option for your home.
The first is the size of your property. Homeowners often assume that this is the critical one, and then they look at the available land around their house and immediately decide, “Nope, can’t work here.” But the geothermal loops that need to be buried into the ground don’t necessarily have to lay flat. That’s a standard configuration, but you can also have vertical loops put in, which are ground loops set down into deep-drilled holes. This makes it possible for smaller properties to enjoy geothermal systems.
Second is the type of soil. Some soil types make it more difficult to install underground loops, such as clay. Other soils don’t have the right level of thermal conductivity. You can ask our geothermal installers if the soil on your property is right for geothermal.
Third is the local cost of energy. This doesn’t affect whether a geothermal system will work for your house, but it will alter how much benefit you’ll get from a geothermal system. In areas with high energy prices, geothermal systems become more attractive because they allow you to remove your dependence on local energy costs and receive a faster payback on your investment in geothermal energy.
Geothermal Heating and Cooling at Work
There are a few more facts about geothermal HVAC you need to know that will help you discover if it’s right for you.
First, geothermal systems are types of heat pumps. If you already use a heat pump to heat and cool your home, know that a geothermal system isn’t much different: you’ll still have the same ductwork and use an indoor blower fan and refrigerant coil. The difference is that the heat pump won’t draw and deposit heat from the outside air, it will instead use the ground loops. Although you will need to replace the indoor components every 15–20 years, the ground loops will last for 50 years or more.
Second, geothermal heating and cooling is a big money saver, especially during winter. Compared to using an electric furnace or gas furnace, a geothermal heat pump consumes far less energy. Geothermal systems are from 4 to 6 times more energy efficient than other types of HVAC systems. Geothermal is a significant investment that will pay back its cost many times over its long service life.
To find out more about geothermal services in Mount Pleasant, SC, reach out to our team.
