Geothermal Systems in Des Moines, IA
Did you know that your own backyard has the potential to be an energy source for superior heating and cooling comfort?
Whether you’re building a new home or looking to replace the heating and cooling system in your current home, a geothermal heat pump system is environmentally friendly and an efficient and money-saving energy solution for your home utility bills.
Our AC contractors provide a range of services:
The Geothermal Process
Geothermal heating and cooling does not use geothermal energy, but rather ground source energy. (For that reason, you may hear geothermal heat pumps called ground source heat pumps.) Geothermal heat pump technology relies on the sun to heat the ground at the earth’s surface, rather than the earth’s core to heat it from below. Outdoor air temperatures fluctuate throughout the year with the changing seasons. In contrast, ground temperatures four to six feet below the earth’s surface remain relatively moderate and constant all year. Why? The earth absorbs 47% of all of the sun’s heat energy that reaches its surface and holds that heat.
A geothermal heat pump doesn’t create heat by burning fuel like a furnace does. Instead, in winter it collects the Earth’s natural heat through a series of pipes installed below the surface of the ground, called a loop field. This heat exchanger captures the stored solar energy in the ground and delivers it back to the geothermal system in the house. Fluid circulates through the loop and carries the heat to the house. There, an electrically driven compressor and a heat exchanger concentrate the Earth’s energy and release it inside the home at a higher temperature. Ductwork distributes the heat to different rooms. In summer, the process is reversed.
The underground loop draws excess heat from the house and allows it to be absorbed by the Earth. The system cools your home in the same way that a refrigerator keeps your food cool – by drawing heat from the interior, not by blowing in cold air.
Your loop system is the heart of geothermal technology. Regardless of the option you select, it will deliver over 500% efficient comfort and savings for many years into the future. Your local geothermal dealer will help you select the proper loop system based on a site survey and by conducting a detailed energy analysis of your home.
Installing a geothermal loop system is like getting a 70% discount on energy for the life of your home.
Vertical loops utilize bore holes drilled to an average depth of 200 feet. Once the loop pipe is inserted into the bore, it is grouted for maximum thermal conductivity. When space is limited, vertical loops are the most common type installed.
Horizontal Loops utilize bore holes drilled to an average depth of 15 to 20 feet by 200 feet long. As one of the more cost effective loops to install, horizontal loops are commonly found in open fields, parks or under parking lots.