Heat Pumps: Air Source and Ground Source Options

Heat pumps offer efficient cooling and heating for your home, and are perfect for homeowners who live in Arkansas where summers tend to get hot and muggy.  Both air source and ground source options work to channel heat from one area to another, so they not only cool your home in summer but keep it warm and comfortable in winter months as well.

Most homeowners enjoy substantial energy savings, because unlike a combustion heating system these units use no fuel.  When you want a cool home in summer months and reduced energy costs, heat pumps are an option that should be considered.

Air source and ground source options:

• An air-source heat pump works by evaporating a refrigerant in the indoor coil which pulls the heat from inside your home and takes it outside.  When winter months arrive, a reversing valve allows the system to extract heat from outside coils bringing warm air indoors.  Air-source models do not work as efficiently is winter months in areas where temperatures remain below freezing for prolonged periods of time.
• Ground-source heat pumps (also commonly called geothermal) are reversible and work to cool or heat your home by changing the direction in which the refrigerant flows.  Unlike an air-source pump, the ground source uses the constant temperatures found under ground as the exchange medium.  Typically, temperatures a few feet below the surface level range from 45 degrees to 75 degrees year round, which makes a ground-source heat pump efficient for cooling and heating your home.
• Geothermal systems work using a closed or open ground loop system.  Which is best for your situation depends on soil conditions, available land, climate and installation costs for your locality.

Are heat pumps a good option for heating and cooling homes in Arkansas?  Absolutely.  With relatively mild winters, this is a smart option that will save you money on monthly utility bills.

Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal has proudly serviced customers in Northwest Arkansas and nearby communities for over 40 years.  Questions about heat pumps?  Give us a call. We’re happy to help.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Paschal Heating, Air & Geothermal services Northwest Arkansas. To get started, check out our website.