Owning your home is exciting, but it does come with a number of new responsibilities. When you’re renting an apartment, your landlord or property manager is in charge of what kind of heating and cooling system your home uses. As a homeowner, you can decide how you want to heat and cool your home, and one option that you should consider is opting for a geothermal system. Many people don’t realize how many benefits geothermal energy can provide, though they are becoming increasingly popular. Keep reading for three reasons you should consider a geothermal HVAC system for your home.
1. Consistent Underground Temperatures
Geothermal heating and cooling incorporate an underground loop, which transfers heat between the Earth and your house. The loop is usually about 30 feet or so beneath the surface, where the temperature tends to be between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The U.S. Department of Energy says at this depth, the temperature underground is consistent, regardless of where you’re located or what the climate is. This temperature consistency is what facilitates the shifting of heat from your home to the Earth when it’s warm outside and from the Earth to your home when winter arrives.
If you want to get the most out of your system, you should make sure the rest of your home is in good condition, too. A problem many homeowners experience is temperate indoor air seeping out of the house through cracks and crevices in windows or window frames. You should inspect them before the beginning of each new season and make sure you don’t need any repairs before the temperature starts to change.
2. Effective Heat Movement
Geothermal heat pumps don’t create heat, which is part of why they’re so much more energy-efficient than furnaces. Rather than using electric resistance coils to generate heat, a geothermal pump just transfers heat between the Earth and your house. This transfer of heat doesn’t actually require the use of any type of fuel, which makes using a geothermal system safer and cleaner than traditional alternatives.
3. Energy Efficiency
Geothermal systems still use some electricity, specifically to operate the motor and fan, and they actually create three to five units of energy for every unit that they use. If you’re doing some quick math, that means using a geothermal heating and cooling system is 300 to 400 percent more efficient. Some homeowners have reported that their utility bills dropped by as much as 65 percent after switching, which can provide massive savings for those who are willing to invest in upgrading. Keeping your home’s air ducts in good condition and making sure they’re sealed to prevent air leaks will further boost your system’s efficiency.
One thing that’s worth considering is the fact that prospective home buyers are more interested than ever in efficiency and environmental sustainability. That means installing a geothermal system could increase the value of your home and make it more attractive if you put it on the market at some point in the future. You may not be thinking about selling your home right now, but it’s always smart to think about your home’s equity when you’re making decisions.
There are a lot of factors to take into account when deciding how to heat and cool your home. The truth is that a geothermal HVAC system and the closed-loop system it uses can be more effective and efficient than a standard HVAC system. Given the fact that home buyers and families are prioritizing sustainability and energy efficiency more than ever, a geothermal system can even raise the sale price of your home if you choose to sell one day. For the majority of homeowners, the installation costs are often more than worth paying for the benefits that a geothermal heating and cooling system can provide.
