Traditional heating and cooling systems tend to follow a few well-defined models: blowing heated or cools air through ducts into your home, for example, or boilers that use steam or heated water to provide warmth for the home. They’re popular and efficient systems and if your home has such a system, there’s no need to change it. (We don’t believe in fixing what isn’t broke around here.)
If you’re in the market for a new heating system, on the other hand, and you have a fair bit of acreage to work with, you might want to think about a geothermal heating system as the weather cools this fall. It can be a bit of an up-front investment, but it provides a number of long-term benefits that you can enjoy for many years to come.
How Does It Work?
Once you dig down below about 10 or 15 feet, the temperature of the earth never changes no matter how hot or cold it gets on the surface. That’s geothermal energy, and it is a limitless resource: never running out regardless of how much is used. Geothermal systems simply take advantage of that fact to warm (and cool) your home very efficiently.
The system works like this: the earth in your yard is dug up and a series of tubes is planted deep in the ground. A pump inside the house circulates a mixture of water and antifreeze through the tubes that transfers heat to the ground. In the winter, it pulls heat from the earth and brings it back into the home. In the summer, it releases heat from the home into the earth.
What Are The Benefits?
Obviously, installing a geothermal system takes a lot of effort, and in most cases, it depends on a fairly large amount of property to put in (though in some cases it can be installed vertically instead of horizontally, and many can be placed in ponds or similar bodies of water to equal effect for much less expense). In exchange for that investment, however, they can provide several huge benefits:
- Lower Monthly Costs. Geothermal energy costs nothing, and the heating system itself requires only a little electricity to run the pumps and other components. That means that geothermal systems cut down on the cost of heating or cooling considerably, giving you a break on monthly bills. This is especially true for larger homes, but can apply to any home that uses such a system.
- Lower Repair Costs. Because the bulk of the system is located underground, it is usually quite durable, meaning that it suffers from much less wear and tear. That in turn, means that repair calls are infrequent at best, providing you with good value for your money.
- Longevity. Geothermal systems tend to operate reliably for many years, longer than many other forms of heating and cooling. That provides good value for your money as a long-term investment in your home.
If you think a geothermal system in your Helotes, TX home is a good idea, call the pros at D’Spain Sales & Service, Inc. today!
