{"id":2304,"date":"2019-12-06T17:57:38","date_gmt":"2019-12-06T22:57:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dandelionenergy.com\/?p=2304"},"modified":"2024-05-24T16:50:15","modified_gmt":"2024-05-24T20:50:15","slug":"geothermal-heat-pump-frequently-asking-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dandelionenergy.com\/geothermal-heat-pump-frequently-asking-questions","title":{"rendered":"Geothermal Heat Pump Frequently Asked Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is a geothermal heat pump?<\/b><\/h2>\n

A geothermal heat pump (also called a ground source heat pump) is a renewable alternative to a furnace or boiler. It\u2019s a critical component of a<\/span> geothermal system<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A geothermal system<\/span> is made of 2 major parts:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. A geothermal heat pump that sits inside your home (typically where the furnace used to sit)<\/li>\n
  2. Underground pipes, called ground loops, installed in your yard below the frost line<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The key difference between furnaces and geothermal heat pumps is the heat source being used to warm the home. A typical furnace creates heat by burning oil or gas in its combustion chamber, whereas a geothermal heat pump simply moves heat from the ground that already exists.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Additionally, while furnaces and boilers can <\/span>only<\/span> heat, many geothermal heat pumps (like Dandelion Geothermal) can heat <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> cool.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    How do geothermal systems work?<\/b><\/h2>\n

    Simply put, a geothermal system pulls heat from the ground to heat your home in the winter, and it dumps heat from your home into the ground to cool it in the summer. That explanation might sound <\/span>a little<\/span><\/i> science fiction, but <\/span>geothermal systems operate quite similarly to the refrigerator in your kitchen.\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

    Just a few feet below the frost line, the ground is a constant ~50 degrees Fahrenheit year round.\u00a0 A water-based solution circulates through underground pipes where it absorbs the ground\u2019s heat and is carried into the geothermal heat pump.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The solution exchanges its heat with the liquid refrigerant inside the heat pump. The refrigerant is then vaporized and passed through a compressor where its temperature and pressure are increased. Finally, the hot vapor enters a heat exchanger where it transfers its heat to the air. This hot air is distributed through the home\u2019s ductwork and warmed to whatever temperature set on the thermostat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Are geothermal heat pumps effective in cold climates?<\/b><\/h2>\n

    Yes, geothermal heat pumps can and do work just fine in cold winter climates. While people might experience seasonal changes above ground, the earth below the frostline is unaffected at 50 degrees.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    How efficient are geothermal heat pumps?<\/b><\/h2>\n

    For every 1 unit of energy used to power your geothermal system, 4 units of heat energy are supplied. That\u2019s about 400% efficient! Geothermal heat pumps can achieve this efficiency because they don\u2019t create heat – they just transfer it. Only about one-third to one-fourth of the energy delivered in heating with a geothermal systems comes from electricity consumption. The rest is extracted from the ground.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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    In contrast, a brand new high-efficiency furnace might be rated 96% or even 98% efficient. For every 100 units of energy used to power your furnace, 96 units of heat energy are supplied and 4 units are lost as waste.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Some energy is always lost in the process of creating heat. ALL of the energy delivered with a combustion-based furnace is created by burning a fuel source.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Do geothermal heat pumps use electricity?<\/b><\/h2>\n

    Yes, they do (as do furnaces, boilers, and air conditioners). They will not work in a power outage without a backup generator or battery storage system.<\/span><\/p>\n

    How long do geothermal heat pumps last?<\/b><\/h2>\n

    Geothermal heat pumps last significantly longer than conventional equipment. They typically last 20-25 years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    In contrast, conventional furnaces generally last anywhere between 15 and 20 years, and central air conditioners last 10 to 15 years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Geothermal heat pumps last a long time for two big reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n

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    1. The equipment is protected indoors from weather and vandalism.<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. No combustion (fire!) within the geothermal heat pump means no flame related wear-and-tear and more moderate temperatures within the equipment, protecting from internal extremes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Geothermal ground loops <\/span><\/a>last even longer, typically more than 50 years and even up to 100!<\/span><\/p>\n

      What kind of maintenance do geothermal heat pumps require?<\/b><\/h2>\n

      The Dandelion Geothermal systems are inherently low maintenance. However, there are some key best practices we recommend to ensure the system runs well:<\/span><\/p>\n

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      1. Every three months, change the air filters. If you run the fan continuously, have pets, or live in a dust-prone environment, filters should be changed more frequently. A good rule of thumb is, if the filters look visually dirty, they should be changed.<\/span><\/li>\n
      2. Each year, we recommend having a qualified service technician perform a basic inspection and maintenance of the system. Dandelion offers this service for customers. During a maintenance visit, the technician will provide the following services:<\/span>\n