How Does Geothermal Heating Work? 

Geothermal Heating

Geothermal heating is one of the most commonly used types of system in many homes and buildings. It is more preferred than the other systems because of the many benefits it provides to families and building occupants. A major feature of this heating unit that gives it the edge is its being environment friendly.  

A study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that geothermal energy systems can lower energy consumption and other emissions from 23 to 44 percent, can reduce carbon dioxide emissions and incurs the lowest operating and life cycle costs. In addition to these, less maintenance is required because of its fewer mechanical parts most of which are installed underground and with the absence of condensing units in its exterior like air conditioners do, this heating system produces less or no noise at all when turned on. 

A geothermal heating system has two types – the closed loop and open loop. The closed loop type makes use of horizontal or vertical pipes where heat is transferred to and from the ground while the open system pumps water from a well or other water source to the heat exchanger and then back to the source. A typical loop system for the closed type is estimated to last for about 50 years. Each system is composed of three major parts – a ground loop involving pipes buried underground, the heat pump installed inside the house and a heating and cooling distribution system also known as ductwork. The pipes are made from durable materials such as polyethylene and copper. 

Geothermal heat pumps work in a similar fashion as the regular heat pumps. The only difference is that it uses the stable heat beneath the earth’s surface to provide hot and cool air as well as hot water. Temperature below the ground is constant all throughout the year with temperatures ranging from 45 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and this makes underground or geothermal heat a very reliable source of energy. In fact, studies have confirmed that around 70 percent of the energy used in a geothermal heat pump is renewable from the ground. 

Unlike the conventional heating system that burns fuel, a geothermal heat pump during winter time gathers heat from the earth and brings it to your home. The natural heat is collected in the loop or a series of pipes and is then carried to the house by water or other types of fluid such as an antifreeze solution. As it reaches the home, a compressor that functions via electricity and a heat exchanger release the geothermal energy at a high temperature. The hot air is eventually distributed to the different rooms in the house through ductwork similar to a regular forced-air system. 

This type of system can also act as a cooling unit during the summer season. The process, however, is reversed. When the weather is hot, the underground loop extracts excess heat from the house so it can be absorbed back by the earth. This can be compared to how a refrigerator cools the food inside it that is, by drawing heat from the inside.