Geothermal heating and cooling systems have gained a well-earned reputation for high efficiency and low-cost operation. Here’s a brief outline of the function of a geothermal system.
Geothermal Equipment
The indoor components of a geothermal system include system controls, the heat exchanger and the air handler system.
The outdoor components include a lengthy system of pipes known as the loop. The loop contains water or an antifreeze solution that allows for easy heat capture or release. In a ground-source geothermal system, the loop pipes are buried in the ground at a depth of about six to 10 feet. At this depth, the temperature of the soil surrounding the pipes remains about 45 to 60 degrees all year long. This consistent thermal environment is essential to the function of the geothermal process.
The Geothermal Process
The geothermal heating and cooling process is based on the function of a heat pump. The heat pump operates by capturing heat and moving it either away from where it’s not wanted or to where it’s needed. In the summer, it removes heat from inside your house; in the winter, it brings heat in from the outdoors.
The loop pipes are connected to the interior unit of the system. Heating and cooling is produced as the antifreeze in the loop circulates between the indoor and outdoor parts of the system.
When cooling your home, the indoor heat exchanger transfers heat to the antifreeze solution in the loop pipes. The hot liquid circulates to the loop pipes in the ground outside, where the heat is dispersed. When heating your home, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the surrounding soil. When the refrigerant moves to the indoor units, the heat is transferred by the heat exchanger, producing warm air that’s then blown into the ductwork to your home.
Ace Hardware Home Services works with residential and commercial clients in Dayton and the neighboring Ohio communities, providing expert HVAC sales, installation, maintenance and repair. Contact us today for more information on the benefits of a geothermal system and how geothermal heating and cooling systems work to keep your home comfortable.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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