| With more and more people becoming concerned | | | | house, with the tubes ending in the basement. |
| about the environment these days, it's not | | | | Inside the tubing, water mixed with antifreeze |
| surprising that more natural and less impactful | | | | carries heat from the earth up to the home, with |
| methods of heating are becoming popular. One of | | | | the help of a pump. |
| these methods of keeping your home warm is | | | | There are two options for using the heat |
| with a geothermal heating system. | | | | collected by the system. It can be blown out into |
| Geothermal heat comes from the Earth. Below | | | | the home, much like a furnace would do, or you |
| the initial layer of ground, the Earth's crust stays a | | | | can have the tubes snake under the floor, |
| fairly regular temperature and this can be used to | | | | providing radiant heating. Both methods are quite |
| heat homes in winter and cool them in the | | | | effective, though the blower will be more |
| summer. It's usually more cost effective once the | | | | effective if you plan to use your heating system |
| system is installed, than a furnace and air | | | | as a cooling one in the summer, during hotter |
| conditioning. As well, the geothermal heating | | | | weather. |
| system is a one time cost, plus the electricity | | | | For the system to work, it needs to be deeply |
| needed to run the pump. | | | | buried and have enough tubing to absorb sufficient |
| Check Your Property | | | | heat that can be transferred to the house. Not |
| First of all, you will need to take a close look at | | | | enough and the water will still be cool when it |
| where you live. This is probably best done by | | | | returns, resulting in a poorly heated house. This is |
| someone who has experience in geothermal | | | | why it's important to calculate carefully the length |
| heating, since they will understand what to look | | | | of the loop and which type of system to use. In |
| for. | | | | areas with very little space, the tubes may go up |
| You need to choose a geothermal pump that will | | | | and down vertically instead of the more traditional |
| fit with the topography and soil type of your | | | | horizontal position. This required far deeper |
| property. Also, having a natural body of water or | | | | trenches for installation and will often require |
| high ground water on the property can help cut | | | | special equipment. |
| down on the amount of tubing that is necessary | | | | Geothermal heating is an excellent way to save |
| for installation. | | | | money over time, though the initial cost is a bit of |
| Install the System | | | | a stunner. Nearly everyone living in cooler |
| Geothermal heating systems almost always | | | | Northern climates will save enough money |
| require a professional for installation. There are | | | | however, that within 3 years, the system will |
| many factors involved, including choosing the right | | | | have paid for itself. The difference is slightly less |
| system for you. | | | | noticeable in the South where warmer climates |
| Essentially, depending on the area where you plan | | | | dictate lesser savings. |
| to install, tubing needs to be laid at least 7 feet in | | | | In many areas, the government is now offering |
| the ground, where the temperature is constant. | | | | special tax breaks and incentives to get people to |
| The tubing is laid to form long zigzags, much like | | | | install the more efficient and environmentally |
| the coil at the back of your refrigerator. This is | | | | friendly geothermal heating systems, rather than |
| going to require a lot of digging. It can be done | | | | the older versions which pollute and use fossil |
| before the home is built, or, once the house is in | | | | fuels, making this an even more worthwhile |
| place, the system can be installed beside the | | | | endeavor. |