Energy bills account for a substantial amount of utility costs in your home every year. Nobody wants to spend extra money on utility bills. But with a geothermal system, you can see savings on your energy bills for years to come. Read on to learn what geothermal energy is and whether it’s a good solution for your home in Severna Park, Maryland.
How Does Geothermal Work?
The soil underground your home and living space isn’t affected by solar energy as much as surface soil is. As a result, it remains a consistent temperature year-round — about 55 degrees. A geothermal system uses pipes that are buried underground and filled with liquid to heat or cool your home. In the winter, it uses the warmth from the earth to heat your home. In the summer, it distributes heat from your home back into the earth, keeping it cool.
Because of the consistent temperature of the ground, geothermal systems use less energy to heat and cool variable temperatures. You won’t only see savings on your energy bills throughout the year. You’ll also reduce your carbon footprint. Geothermal systems are extremely energy efficient and gaining popularity as an alternative to expensive heating and cooling units.
How is Geothermal Installed?
Geothermal systems consist of an indoor air handler, a system of buried pipes, and a heat pump that distributes the air. You can easily integrate it into your existing HVAC system. If your home has a forced-air central system, you’ll need a water-to-air heat pump. If you have radiant heating, you’ll need a water-to-water heat pump.
At Coastal Heating & Air Conditioning Co., Inc., we offer a Performance™ Geothermal Heat Pump GT that uses a two-stage compression and a variable speed motor that’s extremely energy efficient. In addition, the geothermal heat pump has an optional upgrade that you can use to heat water.
Once our highly trained geothermal HVAC experts have inspected the layout and composition of your home and land, drilling begins. We’ll then bury the pipes either vertically for compact spaces or horizontally if there’s plenty of room to lay the loops of piping. These liquid filled pipes will connect to the heat pump system. They’ll deliver warm or cool air through the system via the ductwork or radiant heating system.
What are the Benefits of Geothermal Energy?
Once a professional installs the system, you’ll essentially use energy for free as there aren’t any heating or cooling costs involved. The system only uses a small amount of electricity, mainly from the blower unit. As a result, you’ll see a substantial reduction in your energy bills. Because geothermal systems don’t use electricity or gas to heat or cool, there are virtually no carbon emissions. Therefore, they also help to reduce your carbon footprint.
In addition, you can integrate geothermal into your existing HVAC and hot water system. As a result, you’ll see even lower energy bills without having to heat your water with gas or electricity. Your home will stay more evenly temperature-controlled because the temperature of the ground is consistent, whereas the outside air can fluctuate between extremely hot and cold temperatures. Because there’s very little maintenance in keeping your geothermal system running, you’ll also see a reduction in repair costs.
Will Geothermal Work for My Situation?
Because geothermal systems are so energy efficient and offer many benefits, take a moment to consider if the system is right for your unique heating and cooling needs. Are you thinking of replacing your HVAC system soon? Geothermal may be an excellent option.
If your energy bills are consistently high and rising, geothermal will help to save you money every month. If you’re planning on selling your home or moving soon, geothermal may not be right for you as it takes a couple of years to recoup your investment costs. However, if you plan on staying, geothermal is a very efficient and cost-effective way to heat and cool your home for years to come.
Do you want to set up a consultation to see how geothermal can benefit you? Call Coastal Heating & Air Conditioning Co., Inc. today at 410-919-0110.
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