Choosing a Geothermal Heating and Cooling Installation

Many individuals don’t understand quite how a geothermal system, also called a ground-source heat pump, works. Not a problem, that’s what we’re here to explain! When a traditional heat pump operates, it uses air as the medium for heat transfer, whereas a geothermal system uses the steady temperature of the earth itself.

There are two main types of geothermal systems—a standard geothermal system with a plastic ground loop and the direct exchange heating and cooling system. You can think of the latter as an updated, more technologically advanced form of geothermal heating and cooling.

Both types work by using underground loops to deposit or remove heat form the ground anywhere from 5-100 feet down, where the temperature remains stable. A standard geothermal system is water and refrigerant-based, circulating an antifreeze solution through plastic loops underground. A direct exchange system uses only refrigerant to exchange heat directly with the soil through underground copper loops.

The Benefits of a Geothermal Heating and Cooling Replacement

Regardless of whether you have a more traditional central heating or cooling system and want to upgrade or you already have a standard geothermal system in place and want to explore how a direct exchange system would better suit you, you’d do well to consider the benefits of geothermal heating and cooling replacement.

  • Save Energy: Since geothermal systems use the stable temperature of the earth in their heat transfer process, instead of outdoor or indoor air, they perform at higher energy efficiency than their air-source counterparts. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that geothermal systems, on average, are 3-4 times more efficient than conventional, air-source heat pumps.
  • Achieve Reliable Heating and Cooling: Traditional heat pumps or even central AC and furnace systems can struggle when there is too much variation in the temperature outdoors. Geothermal heating and cooling systems simply do not have this problem as they use the stable temperature of the soil.
  • Count on Durability: It will be hard for you to find another heating or cooling system that will last as long as a geothermal system—particularly a direct-exchange system. The indoor components can last more than 20 years while the ground loops can last over 5 decades!

Comprehensive Geothermal Heating and Cooling Maintenance and Repairs

Just like any other mechanical system, your geothermal system will require maintenance—especially for the interior portion—in addition to geothermal heating and cooling repairs.

During geothermal heating and cooling maintenance, our experienced Salt Lake City technicians will thoroughly clean, inspect, and adjust your system, while checking for any signs of repair needs. Geothermal systems are tough and durable, but natural wear and tear happens on any climate control system.

Fortunately, when you do need reliable geothermal heating and cooling repairs, we can handle them! If you have any questions about how your geothermal system is performing, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.