Ground loop hvac systems

Imagine a home in which the temperature is always comfortable, yet the heating and cooling system is out of sight. The air smells fresh; you can hear the birds chirping and the wind rustling lazily through the trees. The home shares energy with the earth similar to the way the roots of the trees exchange the essentials of life to their leaves and branches. Geothermal heating and cooling makes that vision a reality.

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Content:

• How Does a Geothermal Heating and Cooling System Work?
• Geothermal Ground Loop Frequently Asked Questions
• Understanding Ground Loops – Application Note
• 4 Types of Geothermal Air Conditioning Systems for Your Home
• Ground source heat pump
• Understanding Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems
• How Do Geothermal HVAC Systems Work?
• Geothermal HVAC Professionals Servicing Hagerstown, MD & Surrounding Areas
• How Does Geothermal Heating Work? A Step-By-Step Guide

WATCH RELATED VIDEO: Drilling and Installation of Vertical Geothermal Loops

How Does a Geothermal Heating and Cooling System Work?

A geothermal system can help you save a significant amount of money on home heating and cooling costs by lowering your energy use. These systems come in a few different types that offer their own advantages and disadvantages. Keep the following geothermal facts in mind when looking at systems for your home. It allows for more environmentally friendly and cost-effective heating and cooling.

Understanding the options for geothermal HVAC makes it easier to determine which system will work best in your home. As with any heat pump , geothermal and water-source heat pumps are able to heat, cool, and, if so equipped, supply the house with hot water. Some models of geothermal systems are available with two-speed compressors and variable fans for more comfort and energy savings.

Relative to air-source heat pumps, they are quieter, last longer, need little maintenance , and do not depend on the temperature of the outside air. A dual-source heat pump combines an air-source heat pump with a geothermal heat pump.

These appliances combine the best of both systems. Dual-source heat pumps have higher efficiency ratings than air-source units, but are not as efficient as geothermal units. The main advantage of dual-source systems is that they cost much less to install than a single geothermal unit, and work almost as well. Even though the installation price of a geothermal system can be several times that of an air-source system of the same heating and cooling capacity, the additional costs are returned to you in energy savings in 5 to 10 years.

There are approximately 50, geothermal heat pumps installed in the United States each year. Geothermal facts show that these systems typically involve having holes drilled roughly 20 feet apart and up to feet deep. This system also uses closed loops. You can install it in areas with shallow soil or to minimize the disturbance to existing landscaping.

During the installation process, a service technician will drill holes measuring about 4 inches in diameter, 20 feet apart and feet deep. They will then place pipes that connect at the bottom with a U-bend and at the top with a horizontal piece of piping to create the closed loop. Most closed-loop geothermal heat pumps circulate an antifreeze solution through a closed loop — usually made of plastic tubing — that is buried in the ground or submerged in water.

A heat exchanger transfers heat between the refrigerant in the heat pump and the antifreeze solution in the closed loop. One variant of this approach, called direct exchange, does not use a heat exchanger and instead pumps the refrigerant through copper tubing that is buried in the ground in a horizontal or vertical configuration.

Direct exchange systems require a larger compressor and work best in moist soils sometimes requiring additional irrigation to keep the soil moist , but you should avoid installing in soils corrosive to the copper tubing. Because these systems circulate refrigerant through the ground, local environmental regulations may prohibit their use in some locations.

Large commercial buildings and schools often use vertical systems because the land area required for horizontal loops would be prohibitive. Vertical loops are also used where the soil is too shallow for trenching, and they minimize the disturbance to existing landscaping. For a vertical system, holes approximately four inches in diameter are drilled about 20 feet apart and to feet deep.

Into these holes go two pipes that are connected at the bottom with a U-bend to form a loop. The vertical loops are connected with horizontal pipe i.

These systems require a larger amount of land and can interfere more with landscaping. Based on geothermal facts, these systems are not suitable for properties with rough, rocky soil. Installers dig trenches that are at least four feet deep, then bury two pipes in the ground lengthwise.

Horizontal loop systems require more space. A horizontal loop is always closed, allowing liquid to move continuously through the loop. This style of system requires at least feet of looping space beneath the ground for every ton of cooling and heating capacity the household requires. Your HVAC service technician can perform a load value calculation to determine your heating and cooling needs before making a plan. In a horizontal loop system, the service technician will dig trenches measuring 3 to 6 feet in depth.

They will bury the loops in these trenches. With this method, smaller properties might be able to accommodate horizontal loop systems. This type of installation is generally most cost-effective for residential installations, particularly for new construction where sufficient land is available.

It requires trenches at least four feet deep. The most common layouts either use two pipes, one buried at six feet, and the other at four feet, or two pipes placed side-by-side at five feet in the ground in a two-foot wide trench.

Geothermal facts indicate that these systems do not involve much digging or drilling. Pond loop systems can only be used if the pond has enough depth and volume, as well as good water quality.

The system is closed, and installation requires some digging to attach the underground components to the indoor elements of the system. If the site has an adequate water body, this may be the lowest cost option. A supply line pipe is run underground from the building to the water and coiled into circles at least eight feet under the surface to prevent freezing. The coils should only be placed in a water source that meets minimum volume, depth, and quality criteria.

In closed-loop systems, a heat exchange fluid circulates through the pipes. With open-loop systems, surface water or well water runs through pipes and goes directly back into the ground. Open-loop systems require a clean supply of water, and geothermal facts show that they are not allowed in certain areas.

This type of system uses well or surface body water as the heat exchange fluid that circulates directly through the GHP system.

Once it has circulated through the system, the water returns to the ground through the well, a recharge well, or surface discharge. This option is obviously practical only where there is an adequate supply of relatively clean water, and all local codes and regulations regarding groundwater discharge are met. September 15, Horizontal Closed-Loop Systems These systems require a larger amount of land and can interfere more with landscaping.

Pond Loop Systems Geothermal facts indicate that these systems do not involve much digging or drilling. Open-Loop Systems In closed-loop systems, a heat exchange fluid circulates through the pipes. What is a Mini Split System? Mini splits are HVAC systems similar to heat pumps and do not require new or….

Air Conditioning Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner Maintenance Tips Ductless mini splits are an economical way to cool small or zoned areas within your home or business. They are highly…. Ask about our maintenance service plans. Our licensed technicians have undergone rigorous training, and continue to stay current regarding technological advances that help to improve your indoor air quality.

Our skilled team of plumbers are qualified to handle all your plumbing repair and replacement needs, from sewer and drains to water heaters and more. All your electrical needs are covered by our highly trained and experienced electricians, from generator installs to electrical repair and maintenance.

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Geothermal Ground Loop Frequently Asked Questions

Homeowners in virtually every region of the country are enjoying a high level of comfort while significantly reducing their energy use by heating and cooling their homes with geothermal heat pumps GHPs. The only additional energy GHP systems require is the small amount of electricity they employ to concentrate what Mother Nature provides and then to circulate high-quality heating and cooling throughout the building. Homeowners who use GHP systems give them superior ratings because of their ability to deliver comfortably warm air, even on the coldest winter days, and because of their extraordinarily low operating costs. As an additional benefit, GHP systems can provide inexpensive hot water, either to supplement or replace entirely the output of a conventional, domestic water heater. Geothermal heating and cooling are cost effective because they use energy so efficiently. This makes them very environmentally friendly, too.

Understanding Ground Loops – Application Note

We can only provide service for our existing customers; whose systems we installed. Ground source and Geothermal Heat Pumps tap the stored energy of the earth. These systems use the earth's relatively constant temperature to provide heating, cooling, and hot water for homes and commercial buildings. Because it's much easier to move heat to the cooler earth than into the sweltering summer air, geothermal heat pumps do not have to work as hard to cool your home. This efficiency has a bottom line - Substantial savings reflected in your monthly utility bill! And the same applies for the Heating Season: It's much easier to absorb heat from the warmer earth than from the frigid outdoor air. The type chosen depends on the available land areas and the soil and rock type at the installation site. These factors will help determine the most economical choice for installation of the ground loop. For closed loop systems, water or antifreeze solution is circulated through plastic pipes buried beneath the earth's surface. During the winter, the fluid collects heat from the earth and carries it through the system and into the building.

4 Types of Geothermal Air Conditioning Systems for Your Home

The element that separates a geothermal hvac system from a traditional air to air heat pump installation is the underground loop field the air or antifreeze travels through. This is the key component to any geothermal system installation in the St Louis area. The heat pump feeds air in and out of the loop field as the loop field transitions air underground to heat or cool based on the season. Horizontal loop fields are commonly found in geothermal systems installed in more rural areas.

Ground source heat pump

A ground loop is a series of pipes buried underground at a depth where temperatures stay consistent year-round. It serves as the critical link allowing geothermal heat pumps to use the earth as a heat source or heat sink, depending on if heating or cooling is required. This difference in temperature allows the earth to act as a heat source in winter and a heat sink in summer. A geothermal heat pump located inside the home captures this energy by circulating thermally conductive fluid through the buried ground loop. In winter, the fluid absorbs heat from the warmer earth and carries it into the heat pump, where it enters a heat exchanger and is used to warm your home.

Understanding Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems

You may have heard of this type of system but may still have questions about how geothermal heating and cooling systems work? Before we get into how geothermal heating and cooling works, we need to discuss the different components that make up these systems. If you own a furnace and air conditioner, the equipment is quite different than what you are used to. Key components include:. The geothermal loop also referred to as a ground loop or earth loop is a network of buried piping. The loop can be installed horizontally, coiled, or vertically on the property and be configured as open or closed. An open loop uses a well or nearby body of water as a heat source and heat sink, and water from this source to conduct heat transfer. A closed loop holds its own fluid inside the pipes for heat transfer, which is typically a water and antifreeze mixture.

How Do Geothermal HVAC Systems Work?

More in this section. Enlarge image : Thumbnail of horizontal closed loop illustration. Horizontal loop designs include 1-, 2-, and 4-pipe, and slinky coil configurations.

Geothermal HVAC Professionals Servicing Hagerstown, MD & Surrounding Areas

RELATED VIDEO: Geothermal - Video 5 - Design Rules of Thumb

With an increased emphasis on reducing energy emissions and carbon footprint taking center stage, geothermal heating and cooling systems have become popular with homeowners across the US. Geothermal systems have been in place since the s, starting by providing basic water heating. Over time, incorporating new technologies and advances in air handling systems has made geothermal systems suitable as a commercially viable alternative to more conventional HVAC systems. Depending upon the season, the ground can serve as a heat source or a heat sink.

How Does Geothermal Heating Work? A Step-By-Step Guide

GLHEPRO was developed as an aid in the design of vertical borehole-type ground loop heat exchangers used in geothermal heat pump systems. The heat exchanger may be composed of any number of boreholes arranged in various configurations. Spitler to be the best currently available methodology. Xu and Spitler pdf : discussion of the new GLHE model, which includes improved borehole thermal resistance calculations and consideration of thermal mass. A paper was published in by Cullin et al.

While most homeowners are familiar with how furnaces, air conditioners, boilers, and air-to-air heat pumps work, they have questions about geothermal systems. So how exactly do geothermal HVAC systems work? A geothermal HVAC system has three main components:. While an air-source heat pump moves heat between indoor air and outdoor air, the geothermal heat pump transfers heat between the indoor air and the earth.