A geothermal heat pump (also called a ground source heat pump) transfers heat between your home and the ground. Traditional air conditioners use the outside air to heat and cool your home. Geothermal pumps are typically more efficient and less expensive to operate than traditional air-source heat pumps. Initial installation is much costlier, but the Department of Energy reports that consumers can recoup those savings within five or ten years.
How It Works
A pump circulates water (often mixed with antifreeze) through geothermal pipes. These pipes are buried next to the building. As this fluid travels through the geothermal pipes, heat is either given off into the earth (in cooling mode) or removed from the earth (in heating mode).
The heated or cooled fluid travels through the geothermal pipes to the heat pump, which is located inside the home. The heat pump helps to redistribute the heated or cooled air throughout the home via a system of ducts. In this regard, it’s very similar to a conventional HVAC system.
The Scoop on Geothermal Pipes
Geothermal pipes need to be thick enough that they are structurally sound, but thin enough that the heat exchange system works efficiently. Typically, two thicknesses of geothermal pipes are used: a thin pipe for the coil, and thicker pipes for the bends and headers. Geothermal pipes should be made of high density polyethylene for maximum system longevity.
SYSTEM SETUP
Geothermal pipes can be installed in one of four designs, depending on the size of your yard, soil conditions, and access to water.
Horizontal Closed Loop
This is one of the least expensive configurations of geothermal pipes. The pipes are shallowly buried – about seven or eight feet deep. The loops coil horizontally across the land. Because it’s a horizontal configuration, it requires a significant amount of land, typically over an acre. This setup is ideal for areas with high moisture content, but not optimal if your top layer of soil is dry sand or gravel.
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