Geothermal FAQs

General:

How can you heat a building with 50° ground temperature?
A geothermal heat pump absorbs heat from the ground and then (concentrates) compresses the heat to a higher temperature and distributes it throughout the building.

 

How much does a geothermal system cost?

The initial investment for a geothermal heat pump system is greater than that of a conventional system. However, when you consider the operating costs of a geothermal heating, cooling, and water heating system, energy savings quickly offset the initial difference in purchase price.

There are many factors that affect the cost of a geothermal heat pump system:
Size of the building
Insulation, windows, and air infiltration of the building
Location and elevation of the building
Size and terrain of building lot
Type of ground beneath the building, i.e.  rocky, sandy, dry, wet etc.
Type of heat pump equipment specified
The amount of land we can work with

 

What residential tax credits are available?
The federal tax credit for residential geothermal heat pumps is 30% of the total qualified expenditure. The Utah state investment tax credit for residential systems is 25% of the equipment and installation cost up to a maximum of $2,000.

How efficient is a geothermal heat pump?
The geothermal heat pump is one of the most efficient residential heating & cooling systems available today, with heating efficiencies 50 to 70% higher than other heating systems and cooling efficiencies 20 to 40% higher than available air conditioners. That directly translates into savings for you on your utility bills.

 

Can one system provide both space heating & cooling? And what about heating hot water?
Yes. A geothermal heat pump can be a combination heating/cooling and hot water heating system. You can change from one mode to another with a simple flick on your indoor thermostat. Using a desuperheater, some geothermal heat pumps can save you up to 50% on your water-heating bill by preheating tank water.

 

How does a geothermal heat pump heat water for my home?
Some geothermal heat pumps are designed to heat water directly (like a boiler) for radiant heat use. Others have what is called a desuperheater to use waste heat to “preheat” domestic hot water. During the summer, when the system is in cooling mode, your hot water is produced free as a byproduct of the thermal process. In winter, with the heating mode, the desuperheater heats a portion of your hot water. Desuperheaters are standard on some units, optional on others.

 

How much space does a ground source heat pump unit require?
Most of a geothermal heat pump installation is underground. Inside the house, the heat pump units are about the same size as a traditional heating & cooling unit.

 

How long will my geothermal heat pump system last?
Geothermal heat pumps are durable and highly reliable. The geothermal heat pump contains fewer mechanical components, and all components are either buried in the ground or located inside the home, which protects them from outside conditions. The underground pipe carries up to a 55-year warranty.

 

How noisy is the geothermal heat pump unit?
Geothermal heat pumps are very quiet, providing a pleasant environment inside & outside of the home. Geothermal heat pumps have no noisy fan units to disturb outdoor activities, on or near the patio.

 

How safe are geothermal heat pumps?
Geothermal heat pump systems are safe and protected. With no exposed equipment outdoors, children or pets cannot injure themselves. Geothermal heat pumps have no open flame, no toxic exhaust fumes, flammable fuel or potentially dangerous fuel storage tanks.

 

What about comfort?
A water-to-air geothermal heat pump system moves warm air (90-105(F) throughout your building via standard ductwork. An even comfort level is created because the warm air is moved in slightly higher volumes and saturates the building with warmth more evenly. This helps even out hot or colds spots and eliminates the cold air blasts common with fossil fuel furnaces.

A water-to-water geothermal heat pump system provides the same unmatched comfort of an ordinary boiler.

 

How effective is this underground system?
The buried pipe, or ground loop, is the most recent technical advancement in geothermal heat pump technology. Recently, new heat pump designs and improved buried pipe materials have been combined to make geothermal heat pump systems the most efficient heating & cooling systems available.

 

Can these systems be used for commercial, industrial, or apartment requirements?
Yes. Many geothermal heat pump systems are being installed using a multitude of systems hooked up to an array of buried vertical or horizontal loops. This simplifies zone control and internal load balancing.

 

Savings:

 

How will I save money with a geothermal heat pump?
Geothermal heat pumps save money, both in operating costs & maintenance costs. The initial investment is recouped. You have positive cash flow from day one, since the energy savings exceeds the payment on the system.

 

How much does a geothermal heat pump cost?
The initial investment for a geothermal heat pump system is greater than that of a conventional system. However, when you consider the operating costs of a geothermal heating, cooling, and water heating system, energy savings quickly offset the initial difference in purchase price.

The higher upfront cost of the geothermal system is primarily due to the buried loop system. Some people view the geothermal heat pump system to be too expensive. In reality, the monthly cost of heating/cooling & hot water with geothermal energy added to your monthly mortgage payment will be less per month than it would had an ordinary system been installed. Your geothermal system will produce considerably lower monthly utility bills and annual maintenance costs.

The initial cost of a geothermal system can be tied into your monthly mortgage payment or other form of low interest financing. The savings on your utilities easily covers the cost of the increased loan payment, resulting in positive monthly cash flow.

Best of all, a geothermal system usually pays for itself within an eight to ten year time span. With geothermal technology, it’s like prepurchasing 60-70% of your energy up front. Consider that as you think of the rising cost of energy.

 

 

Environment / Climate:

 

How do geothermal heat pumps protect the environment?
Geothermal heat pumps systems conserve natural resources by providing climate control very efficiently – thus also lowering emissions. Geothermal heat pumps also minimize ozone layer destruction by using factory-sealed refrigeration systems, which will seldom or never have to be recharged.

 

What are the environmental benefits of geothermal heat pump systems?
Currently installed systems are making a huge difference in our environment! The systems are eliminating more than three million tons of carbon dioxide – the equivalent of taking 650,000 automobiles off the road. Geothermal heat pump systems conserve energy and, because they move heat that already exists rather than burning something to create heat, they reduce the amount of toxic emissions in the atmosphere. They use renewable energy from the sun, and because the system doesn't rely on outside air, it keeps the air inside of buildings cleaner and free from pollens, outdoor pollutants, mold spores, and other allergens.

 

 

Your Home:

 

Will my existing ductwork function with this system?
Yes, in most cases. Comfort Tech will be able to determine ductwork requirements and if any minor modifications are needed.

 

Will an underground loop affect my lawn or landscape?
No. Research has shown that loops have no adverse effects on grass, trees, or shrubs. Most horizontal installations require trenches about six inches wide. Temporary bare areas can be restored with grass seed or sod. Vertical loops require little space and do not damage lawns significantly.

 

My yard contains many shade trees. Will this affect ground temperature and my ability to use it as an energy source?
Not at all. The system is installed deep enough that it utilizes constant ground temperature.

 

Can a geothermal heat pump system be added to my fossil fuel furnace?
Yes. Called hybrid systems, they can easily be added to existing furnaces for those wishing to have a dual-fuel heating system. Dual-fuel systems use the geothermal heat pump system as the main heating source, and a fossil fuel furnace as a supplement in extremely cold weather should additional heat be needed.