Geothermal System Installation
As you are evaluating your home heating and cooling options, you are likely to come across geothermal systems as a possibility. While many people initially write off these types of systems as being too expensive or impractical, it is worth looking into the specifics of a geothermal system and how it will work in your home before you dismiss the possibility.
The truth is that there are a lot of misconceptions about what it takes to install and operate a geothermal home heating and air conditioning system and what the benefits actually are. While geothermal heat pumps are not necessarily the right choice for everyone, they are an excellent option for a lot of people and certainly worth finding out more about as you progress in your search.
Advantage Airtech Heating & Air Conditioning is the place to come when you’re looking for information about geothermal system installation in the Eastern Toronto area. We have a great deal of experience working with these types of systems and we would be glad to help you determine whether or not a geothermal system is right for you.
How Geothermal Works
Before you can decide whether or not you want to go with a geothermal home heating and cooling system, you will have to understand a bit about how these types of systems actually work. Geothermal systems are really quite similar to more traditional air source heat pumps except that rather than drawing heat from the air, they actually draw it from the ground.
This is done through a series of pipes that are installed in the ground below and around your house. The pipes are typically configured in a closed loop, although open loop geothermal systems are available as well. In a closed loop system, the pipes are filled with a combination of water and anti-freeze which is then circulated continuously into the ground and then back up into the compressor in your house.
As the liquid travels through the pipes underground, it is able to absorb heat from the surrounding soil. That heat is then released into the air inside the compressor unit when the liquid gets back to the surface. This heated air can then be circulated throughout your house, while the cooled liquid is returned to the ground to pick up more heat and begin the process all over again.
This allows geothermal heat pumps to supply your home with a constant stream of warm air. Unlike other forced air systems that heat your home by pumping out periodic blasts of very hot air and then letting it diffuse and cool, geothermal heat pumps maintain a comfortable temperature by running almost constantly and circulating a stream of comfortably warm air.
Geothermal Installation Options
When it comes to installing your geothermal heat pump, you will have a couple of options for pipe configuration. You can either have the pipes installed horizontally so that they circulate liquid about four feet below the ground surface, or you can have them installed vertically.
Horizontal installations work well in all but the most extreme climates where the ground can freeze even below the level of the pipes. They also generally involve more pipe and so you need to have the horizontal space stretching away from your house to accommodate these pipe loops.
Vertical installations can be smaller, as they go further down into the warmer parts of the soil. However, the drilling required to complete a vertical installation can raise the overall installation price considerably.
If you would like to learn more about the geothermal installation services that Advantage Airtech offers, give us a call today. We serve customers all over the Greater Toronto area and would be glad to count you among them.