Geothermal 101

How Does it Work?

Consider the underground as a thermal battery that a geothermal system utilizes to exchange energy between your home and the earth as needed for heating and cooling. A geothermal system does this by using ground source heat pumps (GSHP) in combination with a loop field, which is a system of pipes that are placed underground. The loop system is filled with a mixture of water and antifreeze which circulates to collect and distribute the heat from and into the ground.

In the summer, conventional HVAC systems will pull the heat from your home and get rid of it by expelling it into the air outside. The challenge with this is that the air outside is already concentrated with heat, making it hard to absorb additional heat and therefore losing it to the atmosphere. In the Winter the system then has to burn fossil fuel to provide heat for the home. This makes the process most inefficient and costly.

In The Summer

In the summer, a GSHP pulls the heat out of your home and stores it into the cooler ground.

In The Winter

In the winter, a GSHP will source the heat stored from the summer from the ground and concentrates it before distributing it back into your home.

Loop Fields

Vertical Loop

Vertical loop systems are perfect for homes with smaller lots or limited yard space. Pipes are installed in deep holes up to 500 feet into the ground, making them ideal for denselly populated or urban environments. Since everything is buried underground, there is no visible wellhead and the system can even be installed under driveways or patios.
Pros

Very small footprint needed

Well measures 6in in diameter

No impact on use of land above
Cons

Higher cost
Horizontal Loop

Horizontal loop systems are a great choice for homes with ample yard space. Pipes are buried in trenches about 8 feet deep, with each trench stretching up to 80 feet. For a typical residential installation, around 5,000 square feet of land is needed.
Pros

One of the most cost-effective solutions
Cons

Some limitations on what you can build or plant above loop field
Pond Loop

Pond loop systems use coils of pipes placed at the bottom of a nearby pond or lake to capture the earth's natural heat. For the average home, a pond about 0.5 acres in size and 12 feet deep is usually sufficient.
Pros

Lower cost option to install

Disturbed surface area is low

Doesn't limit the usage of the pond
Cons

Pond has to be 100 feet of the house

Less efficient in the summer

Ideal for new ponds in construction
Open Loop

Open loop systems are used when a property has an abundant supply of well water. The water source must have enough capacity to meet both the home's domestic needs and the geothermal system's energy requirements. After circulating through the system, the water is typically discharged to a secondary well, ensuring efficient operation while maintaining proper water management.
Pros

Can be installed without needing a lot of surface area

Can be more effective to install for very large homes compared to close vertical loop
Cons

Less efficient as well pump has to overcome static pressure of the water

Reduced longevity as minerals in the ground water can build reliance on the well pump as a single point of failure

Heat Pumps

Heat pumps are the heart of a geothermal system, moving heat between you home and the ground to provide efficient heating in the winter and cooling in the summer.

Unlike traditional HVAC systems, they don't generate heat, they transfer it, making them one of the most energy-efficient ways to keep your home comfortable year-round.

Domestic Hot Water

1. Dedicated Heat Pump

A dedicaed goethermal heat pump uses the heat that is pulled from the ground and utilizes it to heat your hot water. Providing reliable hot water year-round while using significantly less energy, reducing utility costs and environmental impact.

2. Desuperheater

A desuperheater is a secondary part of the heat pump that collects the extra heat and utilizes it for domestic hot water usage.

Geothermal 101

How Does it Work?

In The Summer

In The Winter

Loop Fields

Vertical Loop

Pros

Cons

Horizontal Loop

Pros

Cons

Pond Loop

Pros

Cons

Open Loop

Pros

Cons

Heat Pumps

Domestic Hot Water

1. Dedicated Heat Pump

2. Desuperheater

Hydronic Heat Pumps

Forced Air Heat Pumps

Services

Why Geothermal

Resources

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