What is a ground source heat pump?

A ground source heat pump, also known as a geothermal heat pump, is a heating and cooling system that directs heat from one area to the other, with one of the areas being the ground. Typically, ground source heat pumps can move the heat from or into the upper crust of the earth’s surface. This is estimated to the top ten feet of the earth’s crust. This area of the earth is at a particular temperature, which can be used for either heating or cooling requirements. A ground source heat pump will draw heat from the ground to make the space hot in winters and will remove heat from the space to make it cool in summers. A ground heat pump system is quite similar to a water source heat pump, which uses a water body for exchanging heat.

The main working principle of the ground source heat pump is the same as that of other heat pump systems; the only difference is in the nature of the source, which is the ground. The pump has a refrigerant inside it which moves through a loop. This refrigerant carries the heat from the required area to cause either heating or cooling. The movement of the refrigerant is continuous so that once the heat exchange has taken place, it will continue again right after that. The continuous movement of the refrigerant helps keep the space cooled or heated at the required amount of temperature. This principle of the mechanics of a heat pump is referred to as a direct exchange method.

How does a ground source heat pump differ from other styles of heating or cooling?

The very nature of the workings of a ground source heat pump system ensures that the heating or cooling is kept continuous because these are virtually unmanned devices once they are set up. The ground source heat pump installation is a tough job that would require the expertise of a professional, but in all other respects, this method of heating or cooling is much easier than other options that are available.

One of the benefits over other systems is that ground water heat pumps do not use any kinds of chemicals. The refrigerant is completely enclosed within the loop and there is no way that it can leak to the surroundings. There are no other chemicals used that could pollute the surrounding space. The ground source heat pump systems have a marked benefit over furnaces, which lead to pollution by the emanation of carbon fumes released from the chemicals that they use. Apart from the fact that carbon fuel sources are nonrenewable, there are the aspects of low efficiency and high running costs associated with these methods.

Hire a professional to install a ground source heat pump

One of the most important things to remember is that the ground source heat pump installation needs to be done by a qualified professional. If done in a wrong manner, the heat exchange would not be efficient and you might also end up repairing the system periodically. There might be problems such as lower heating and cooling than required, higher running costs and potential hazards. These are the reasons why people always opt for professional assistance when installing these ground source heat pumps for their homes.

Interested in a heat pump system for your home? Get your project started by submitting a free BuyerZone request for heating system price quotes.