All You Need to Know About Geothermal HVAC Systems

Wouldn’t it be great to enjoy a comfortable indoor environment year-round without increasing energy usage? You can do just that by tapping into the natural energy beneath the ground just outside your home. You can choose from packaged, water-to-water, or split geothermal HVAC systems. No matter which option you select, you will enjoy fresh indoor air and reliable performance that saves energy. Is geothermal heating and cooling right for your Chapel Hill, North Carolina, home? Here’s everything you need to know to make the right choice.

You Benefit From Durability

A geothermal cooling and heating system features two primary components: the indoor heat pump system and the below-ground earth loop system. The indoor components typically last for at least 25 years before requiring replacement. They have relatively few moving parts and are not very susceptible to breakdowns. Earth loops, meanwhile, typically last well over five decades because they are well-protected underground. This longevity is especially appealing when compared with the average service life of 15 years for traditional HVAC systems.

An Efficient HVAC Option

Hot, sticky summers and very chilly winters are the norm in the Chapel Hill, North Carolina, area. No matter how hot or cold it gets, however, beneath the ground maintains a consistent temperature. Generally, ground temperatures typically stay between 50 and 75 degrees throughout the year. That means below the ground is cooler than the land in summer and contains more heat energy than the surrounding air during winter.

Geothermal systems work by extracting heat from one location and moving it to another. During summer, your geothermal heat pump extracts heat from the air inside your home and transfers it to the ground. A series of liquid-filled pipes (the earth loop), cools the air and returns it indoors for efficient air conditioning. In winter, the warm ground temperatures act on the earth loop to return air that heats your home.

Geothermal HVAC Systems Save Energy

Actively heating or cooling your home can require a substantial amount of energy. In fact, well over half of the energy used in a typical home goes toward heating and cooling. What makes geothermal HVAC systems unique is that they do not need to actively generate heat energy. Instead, they rely on latent heat and the principles of physics to maintain a consistent indoor temperatures over a long period of time.

The average geothermal HVAC system provides up to five units of heating or cooling for every unit of electricity it uses. This remarkable efficiency can significantly reduce monthly utility costs without sacrificing comfort. It also makes geothermal energy one of the best options for environmentally responsible heating and cooling.

Upgrading to a Geothermal Heat Pump

Despite the higher initial cost, a geothermal HVAC system is an excellent and cost-effective long-term investment. These systems typically require relatively little maintenance and will continue to produce energy savings for years to come. Most homeowners can expect savings of 60 to 70 percent on their monthly utility bills. The average geothermal HVAC system pays for itself within about 10 years, and will continue to deliver savings well beyond that. Our service techs are installation experts. We will ensure you fully understand everything that is involved in setting up your new system.

Geothermal HVAC systems are impressively efficient, exceedingly flexible, and one of the best choices for the environment. They deliver consistent and comfortable temperatures while consuming very little energy. They can be included as part of a new construction project or retrofitted into an existing property. However, they’re not ideal for every situation. To find out more about geothermal HVAC systems, and whether or not they will work for your property, contact Warren-Hay Mechanical today. Give us a call at 919-251-5615 to speak with a representative today or to schedule a consultation.

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