HVAC Science: The Physics of Geothermal Heat Pumps
The earth itself is a sustainable resource for heating and cooling that remains largely untapped by many people. Underneath the shallow ground, the earth maintains a constant temperature of 54 degrees, serving as an almost bottomless heat sink in the summer and a steady source of constant heat during the cold winter months. This is the idea behind geothermal heat pumps—an energy-efficient alternative to household heating and air conditioning that can make do without the usual fixtures of conventional systems, such as an HVAC manual damper, to save you money on your energy bill. Installation Heat pumps distribute temperatures throughout your home evenly, foregoing the need for an HVAC manual damper to control airflow in and around your ducts and vents. This characteristic is shared by the geothermal heat pump, which can be installed to run on existing ductwork. Your heating and cooling will come from the earth itself. Contractors will dig a hole approximately 10 feet deep in your backyard where the heat exchanger will be buried. This may require heavy earth moving equipment and special permits from local authorities. How It Works The heat exchange buried in your backyard is a series of pipes filled with water or antifreeze solution constantly