How a geothermal heat pump works
A geothermal heat pump uses the steady temperature of the ground to heat and cool your home. Here is how.
Four parts, one loop
The ground
A few feet down, the ground stays near the same temperature all year.
The loop
Buried pipe carries water, often mixed with antifreeze, through that steady ground.
The heat pump
Indoors, the unit pulls heat out of the loop, or puts heat back into it.
Your home
Your ductwork carries the warm or cool air from room to room.
Winter and summer
In winter
The loop picks up heat from the ground. The heat pump concentrates it and sends warm air through your ducts.
In summer
It runs the other way. Heat from your home goes out through the loop and back into the ground.
Loop types
The loop is chosen by your land. We help you pick the one that fits.
- Horizontal
- Pipe laid in trenches a few feet deep. It needs open land.
- Vertical
- Pipe set down deep bored holes. It fits a smaller lot.
- Pond
- Coils sunk in a pond on your land, deep enough to stay steady.
- Open loop
- Well water runs through the heat pump, then goes back to the ground.
Geothermal or air-source?
| Question | Geothermal | Air-source heat pump |
|---|---|---|
| Trades heat with | The ground, through a buried loop | The outdoor air |
| What sits outside | No outdoor unit | An outdoor unit beside the house |
| Yard work | Trenches, bores or a pond loop | None beyond a pad |
Have an air-source system now? Heat pump repair and service
See if your land fits
Book a visit. We look at your home, your land and your current system, then explain your options.