If you have investigated heat pumps as a possibility for home comfort, you may have learned about their single major drawback: heating inefficiency in extreme low temperatures. Although the Puget Sound Area experiences milder winters than most regions in the northern United States, we definitely have days where the thermometer drops far enough that a standard air-source heat pump will begin to struggle delivering the right level of warmth.
However, a geothermal heat pump is not an air-source heat pump, but rather a ground-source one. Instead of using the outside air as its medium of exchange, it uses the ground at 6 feet or deeper. This makes a significant difference in the efficiency of the system and its usefulness as a year-round comfort solution.
Contact G&S Heating, Cooling & Electrical, Inc. today to learn more about ground-source heat pumps in Shoreline, WA. We have expert installers on staff who know how to locate the right heat pump to fit your home.
The Secret of the Success of the Geothermal Heat Pump
One of the significant advantages of a ground-source heat pump is that it always has a reliable temperature to use for heat exchange. Only 6–10 feet under the surface, the earth maintains a steady temperature around 55°F, no matter how hot or cold the weather is topside. The loops of a geothermal system that carry refrigerant (usually water) move through the earth and use the stable temperature for heat exchange. An air-source heat pump is at the mercy of the outdoor temperature, so when the thermometer drops below freezing, the system will have trouble drawing heat from the outside to move to the inside. A geothermal system, with an ample 55°F always available to it, will not encounter this difficulty.
As for cooling mode, a geothermal heat pump is always up to the challenge of the summers in Shoreline. Heat pumps in general have powerful efficiency as air conditioners, able to match any standard AC unit of comparable size.
Make Sure a Geothermal Heat Pump Is Right for You
The reliability of ground-source heat pumps makes them attractive options. They also cost less to run than most cooling systems, so even though they have a higher upfront installation price, they will payback that cost in 5–10 years—and they often last more than 50 years.
But geothermal isn’t the ideal choice for every home: you need a certain amount of space and the right local conditions. Call G&S Heating, Cooling & Electrical, Inc. and have one of our technicians experienced with heat pumps in Shoreline, WA survey your home and property to help find the best system for you.
