Geothermal Systems
A Geothermal system transfers
heat from the Earth to your home during the heating season, and from your home
to the Earth during the cooling season. This enables it to provide heating
during the winter and cooling during the summer. The ability of the Earth to
provide heating during the Winter is due to the stable and constant temperature
of the earth below the 'frost level'.
With
a system of piping we install underground, we absorb the Earth's temperature in
the winter and deliver it to your home to heat your home. In the summer, we use
that same system of piping to reverse the process and capture the excess heat
in your home and deliver it back to the Earth - thereby cooling your home. The
Earth readily absorbs that Summer heat and your home gets cooled. The only
energy required is the electricity to operate the unit, which is small and
costs far less than using either gas, oil or electric for heating.
The
United States Environmental Protection Agency states that Geothermal systems
are "the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective
space conditioning systems available today." Geothermal technology
provides the most efficient heating & cooling systems on the market today.
With a Geothermal system we can typically supply up to 80% of your heating needs and up to 100% of your cooling needs at tremendous savings to you over conventional gas or oil systems. In addition, the Federal Government offers an incentive to install a Geothermal System: 30% of the cost of your geothermal system will be refunded in the form of a 'Tax Credit'.
Below is what the process of installing a geothermal heating/cooling system looks like step by step. From start to finish usually takes 5-7 days.
Step 1:
First we drill wells in which we run the piping that will absorb the Earth's heat in the winter and return heat to the Earth from your home in the summer. The wells are typically no bigger than 6" in diameter. The needs or your particular home will determine the amount of wells that are drilled and how deep they will be. For example: a home with 3 zones will require 1-3 wells.
Step 2:
Next we prepare a trench up to 6' deep between the wells and your home. This will serve as an underground highway for the pipes that transfer heat. We carefully navigate around existing obstacles including plumbing, gas lines, electrical lines, boulders and more.
Step 3:
Once the trench is prepared, we are ready to install the piping into each well. The piping is lowered into each well and will eventually connect to a heating/cooling heat pump in your home.
Step 4:
Next we fill the well with grout to ensure the piping system transfers heat properly and to keep it from shifting. Once the grout dries, there should never be a problem with leaks or damage inside the well. The grout is similar to cement and is 100% safe for the environment.
Step 5:
Now we are able to run the fully insulated pipes to the house in the trench.
Step 6:
Now that the pipes lead to your home, we are able to connect them with the unit that controls the whole system. The unit is quieter than most traditional heating and air conditioning units and is usually installed in your basement. This makes servicing the unit easier and will prolong the life of equipment because it is not battling the elements outdoors.
Step 7:
After everything is connected and working properly the trench can be filled in, burying the pipe system, and landscaping will complete the process.
