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.