Does Geothermal Heating Work in Cold Climates?
You will often hear people say that in a cold climate, geothermal energy
will not decrease. The perception is that it cannot provide enough heat to keep
your home warm during severe winters.
The use of geothermal power in cold climates is not a new concept. In
Iceland, volcanic water is used to provide heat, while in Northern California,
the Mayakama Mountains provide geyser steam to heat homes.
But these are large-scale projects. Domestic geothermal heating is
completely different.
We thought we would break this myth once and for all, and explain why geothermal heat pumps are a good choice even in the harshest environments.
The working principle of geothermal heat pump
The geothermal heat pump is the core of the geothermal system. They are
connected to both the underground pipe circuit filled with heat transfer fluid
and the air pipe system in your home.
According to the temperature you set in your home, the fluid in the
underground pipeline will circulate according to the needs of the heat pump.
When this happens, the fluid collects latent heat energy from the earth itself.
This will be sent back to the heat pump, which distributes this natural
form of heat to your home. Now you may still be wondering, "Does the heat
pump work in cold climates?" or "How does geothermal heating work in
winter?"
The answer is yes, geothermal heat pumps can and do work well in cold
winter climates. This is possible because although our temperature on the
ground changes drastically as autumn leaves turn into snowflakes and ice, the
earth just a few feet below is not affected.
This is because the heat energy from the sun is stored in the earth.
Therefore, whether it is raining, sunny, sleet, or snowing, the temperature
will always be around 55 degrees Fahrenheit about 10 feet below the ground.
Therefore, the geothermal heat pump is always easy to absorb the heat energy
required for startup.
Selection, design and installation of geothermal system
If you are interested in installing a geothermal heating system in your
home, it is important to get a system that is the right size and fits your
home. If you do not install the correct size and design, your heating system
will not work properly. This means a huge waste of money and a lot of
frustration for you.
Manually calculate the amount of heat gain/loss
To avoid this, geothermal heating installers usually perform so-called
manual calculations on the space in your home. This is a somewhat complicated
process that can accurately calculate the amount of heat lost or gained in each
room of your house.
Air-conditioning technicians also use the same formula when adjusting
the size of a house for traditional air-conditioning.
Heat pump size
Once you know the number of BTUs (measured thermal energy) required to
heat your house, the technician can determine what size heat pump your house
needs to operate effectively.
Heat pumps of different sizes are designed to handle different loads.
Once this number is available, the geothermal installer can accurately estimate
which heat pump can do the job well.
Loop system size
The next important step in determining the size of the geothermal system
is to determine the size of the underground pipeline loop system. One thing
that determines this is how much liquid is needed to match the heat pump and
heating needs of the home.
How deep the pipeline should be buried and whether the loop system should
be installed horizontally or vertically depends on several factors. These are
basically:
1) How much space does your backyard have
2) How thick is the soil you are dealing with
3) If you live in a very cold climate, any slight adjustment of soil
temperature
4) Determine the size of the hot air duct system
In your home, the final element of the design is determined by combining
the previous calculations used to determine the heat gain and loss in your home
with another calculation that converts heat from water to air.
These calculations must be done room by room to ensure that the heat is
evenly distributed, rather than concentrated in one place or another. You
definitely don't want a bathroom that feels like a sauna and a living room that
makes you always cold. A good stable distribution is the key.
How to choose a geothermal installer
Experience is the biggest decisive factor in the decision. Do they
install geothermal locally, can you see evidence of their work? Do they have
the necessary qualifications and training?
To conduct research, you need to know:
1) Do they have experience?
2) What licenses and certifications do they have, and bonds?
3) Do they have a good record?
4) Can they provide references?
5) Do they sound knowledgeable?
6) Are they willing to answer all your questions?
7) Thorough research is the key to obtaining a geothermal heat pump that
operates efficiently throughout the year, especially in severe winters.
Geothermal is indeed effective in colder climates
So you have it. It is easy to dispel the myths about whether geothermal
heat pumps work in the cold. In order for the most efficient heating system to
operate, you need to reduce fluctuations in extreme temperatures.
Changing weather conditions affect the air outside, making it
susceptible to extreme temperature fluctuations. The geothermal system operates
at a constant level, avoiding fluctuations and making the system more
efficient.
Are you looking for the right geothermal heat pump for your home? We
have a large number of ground source systems to choose from. In addition, we
can provide you with technical and installation advice during the entire life
cycle of your purchase.