There are three major differences when comparing one Ohio geothermal heating system to another, they are: Loop Type, Loop Design, and the Type of Fluid in the loop. In the winter it collects the earth's natural heat through a heat exchanger consisting of a series of pipes, made of plastic or copper.
The Loop Material...
The Loop Material can easily be considered one of the most important factors when trying to determine which design is the best investment for you. Currently there are to forms of material used for a geothermal ground loop, they are: plastic tubing or copper tubing. Often the heating contractor will sup-contract the loop system to another contractor and may not actually have the experience installing the loop themselves. So again talking with a contractor who has experience installing both plastic and copper ground loops as well as the rest of the equipment installed inside the home can insure that you'll make the best decision possible for your circumstances.
Unlike a traditional closed loop geothermal heating system that uses water and a plastic ground loop heat exchanger, the Waterless (DX geothermal) system doesn't use water and the ground loop is made of copper which is installed vertically deep below the earth surface. A copper ground loop is a much better conductor of heat than the traditional plastic loop. This vertical copper loop design is the most efficient method of transferring heater from the ground. This type of loop design is installed within a 3 foot circle in your yard. The reliability of copper is so good that a copper ground loop has a better warranty (lifetime) for the consumer. The Waterless geothermal is the most advanced geothermal system available and usues an environmentally friendly refrigerant that ciculates throughout the ground loop. This refrigerant/Freon is similar to the Freon in used in your household refrigerator. The Waterless system does NOT require the use of antifreeze either. Eliminating the water also eliminates many of the expensive water components used in a tradition water type geothermal. It also provides a higher efficiency while reducing the potential for future maintenance with your system. The technology has been around for over 25 years and has been proven to be one of the most efficient geothermal designs on the market today. Learn More >>
Water Geothermal Heating - Vertical Loop:
A Vertical loop design is typically used when space is limited as a plastic pipe heat exchanger. Your yard isn't torn up nearly as much with a vertical loop design. Holes are drilled using a drilling rig, and a pair of plastic pipes with special u-bend fittings which are inserted into the holes. A typical home requires three wells approx. 210 feet deep. Learn More >>
A Horizontal loop is used where adequate land is available. The ground loop consists of a plastic pipe heat exchanger. Horizontal loops involve one or more trenches that are dug 4-5 feet deep using a backhoe or trencher. A Water/Antifreeze solution circulates through the plastic tubing absorbing the heat from the ground. The ground loop is a key component of the ground source water geothermal system. Therefore many design factors need to be considered to insure the proper installation of a horizontal loop system, be sure to ask your contractor about the design parameters considered for your geothermal loop. Learn More >>
If an adequately sized body of water is close to your home, a plastic loop can be installed in a pond as the heat exchanger. A Water/Antifreeze solution circulates through the plastic tubing absorbing the heat from the ground. A series of loops can be coiled and sunk to the bottom. A 1/2 acre, 8-foot-deep pond is usually sufficient enough for the average home. The loop design is especially critical with a pond loop system which can lead to system problems if not given proper consideration. Be sure to discuss the loop design of your project with your contractor before staring your project. Learn More >>
An open loop system system is typically installed in rural areas where it can utilize th 55 degree well water as the heat source for you home.Typically it does not require any outside digging. An open loop geothermal system pumps water from the existing water well through the geothermal unit where the heat is removed from the water. After removing the heat from the water the water remains clean and can be discharged to multiple locations such as; to a running stream, pond, or down a drain. This system typically requires more future maintenance than a closed loop system so be sure to dicuss any future maintenance considerations with your contractor. Learn More >>
Water Geothermal Heating - Slinky Loop:
The Slinky loop design is another horizontal closed loop design. The plastic heat exchanger pipes are typically laid flat in a circular pattern at the bottom of a trench. A Water/Antifreeze solution circualtes through the plastic tubing absorbing the heat from the ground. This design can save space requiring less land area and shorter trenching when considering installing a horizontal loop. Other design factors should be considered with a slinky loop system, so be sure to ask your contractor about the loop design parameters.
Geothermal Heating vs Air Source Heat Pump System:
The word heat pump basically means a that a system is capable of providing both heat and air conditioning. So like a geothermal heating system, an Air-to-Air (also known as an air source) heat pump is also able to provide both heating and cooling; through the use of an outside unit that looks like a standard air conditioner. An air to air heat pump system works in conjunction with a (Gas or Electric) forced air furnace while extracting heat from the warm outside air. The advantage of an Air Source heat pump is that it can heat your home more efficiently than a conventional gas or electric forced air furnace. When the outside temperature gets below freezing an air to air heat pump requires assistance from the back-up furnace to heat your home. When comparing an air source heat pump to a geothermal heating system there are many benefits and potential drawbacks to consider with both systems when determining which system is best for you. Sign up for our free Geothermal/Heat Pump report for more detailed explanation of things to consider to properly determine which system is right for you.
