Usually, the geothermal heaters cost a lot and the installation cost is also higher with this compared to the other heating systems. Yet, if they are properly sized and properly installed, they are more energy efficient than other systems and in this way they work out cheaper in the long run. When they are equipped with a super heater, it can also double up and heat the household water. In summer, due to the heat taken from the house, the water can be heated for free and in winter, the heating cost of water is reduced in this case.
Helps in cutting costs
The geothermal heaters help you to recoup your investment cost by means of decreased utility bills in periods ranging from 2 – 10 years. Using of geothermal heating systems can be included in energy efficient mortgages. There are other schemes and financing as well as incentives given by the state, federal, local governments, banks, mortgage companies as well as power providers.Based on the shallow ground temperature, geological, spatial as well as hydrological characteristics of the land, geothermal heat pumps can be effectively used. The composition of the soil and the rock properties affect the heat transfer rate and this needs to be considered when designing the ground loop. If the properties of heat transfer are good, the piping required is less. If the areas have hard rocks or have shallow soil, vertical ground loops will be required instead of horizontal loops.
Important considerations
The surface water and ground water availability decides on what kind of ground loop can be used. This depends on the volume, depth and quantity of water. If there are bodies of surface water, this can be used as the sources of water for open loop system or it can be used as a repository for coils of the piping which is necessary in closed loop systems. If the water quality of the ground water is suitable and the ground water discharge regulations are met, then this can be used as a source of water for open loop systems. If the open loop system is purchased, the installer will need to investigate the site’s hydrology so that the potential problems like groundwater contamination and aquifer depletion can be avoided.
Kind of system to opt for
Based on the layout and space of the land, the location of underground utilities or sprinklers, the system design needs to be changed accordingly. For newly constructed buildings which have sufficient land, horizontal ground loops are used. Vertical installations or compact horizontal installations are used when the buildings exist as this minimizes the disturbance to the landscape.
Technical details to remember
When the piping needs to be installed, specialized technical knowledge as well as equipment is needed. These installers are certified persons who are highly experienced in this field. The geothermal heating systems use 25% to 50% less electricity compared to the other heating systems. Geothermal heat pumps reduce the emissions by 44% as compared to the air source heat pumps and it is 72% when compared with electric resistance heating. This also improves the humidity control and this is handled by maintaining 50% relative indoor humidity. Therefore, these are very effective in humid areas. These systems are flexible in design and so the installation requires less space than other HVAC systems. They also provide zone space conditioning where different parts of the home can be heated or cooled as per different temperatures. These systems have few moving parts and these parts are usually sheltered and so these systems are not only reliable but also highly durable. Generally, the piping comes with 25 or 50 year warranties as well and the heat pumps last 20 years or more. All that you need is a timely maintenance.
