Thinking About Switching Over to a Geothermal System? Here's What You Should Know

If you are considering installing an energy efficient geothermal system, learning the basics can help you decide if now is the time to switch over to this green heating and cooling technology that will immediately begin to payback your investment through reduced utility bills and improved home comfort.

Since geothermal heating and cooling systems use the stable temperatures below ground (or in groundwater) as a heat source in winter and a heat sink in summer, your system can provide year round comfort in all climates and in nearly all types of home lots or settings. Heat is absorbed from or released into the ground through a series of pipes buried at depths ranging from a few yards below the surface to deeper than 100 feet depending on available land space, climate conditions, etc. During summer months, ground warmth can provide liberal hot water at no additional cost.

Although the exterior portion of your geothermal system is unique, the remaining components are similar to common HVAC systems, involving a heat exchanger, blower fans, and ductwork to distribute conditioned air to each room within your home.

Geothermal systems will provide you with the following additional benefits:

• Components with a long life span; the heat exchanger should last you 20 years while the loop field itself can last over 50 years!
• Year round energy savings, as the source of your warmth or coolness comes directly from the earth as opposed to fossil fuels. Electricity is needed only to power your heat exchanger and blower fans and free hot water during much of the year provides additional financial savings.
• Federal and/or state rebates available at times to assist you with the upfront costs of materials and installation of your geothermal system.
• A home with higher resale value and a lower carbon footprint when compared to those equipped with standard HVAC systems.

Homeowners in the Northwest Arkansas area interested in learning more about the benefits of geothermal systems are encouraged to contact the professionals at Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal, where we have been helping customers meet all of their home comfort needs since 1968!

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Springdale, Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about geothermal systems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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