When it comes to heating and cooling options here in Tampa, you’ve usually got just a handful to choose from. If you don’t stick with a traditional HVAC system, then you probably have a heat pump. Other than those, the choices get more obscure and less common, so it feels like you have a hand tied behind your back when it’s time to pick how you want your home to be heated and cooled.
But did you know there’s another perfectly viable option? Geothermal cooling systems technically fall under the category of heat pumps, but they’re different in how they achieve the temperature change. But if you’re not super familiar with how they work, you might be skeptical. Have no fear! The geothermal experts at Acree Plumbing & Air are here to explain how geothermal cooling operates.
How Geothermal Cooling Works
When you break geothermal systems down to their core, they aren’t too different from traditional systems. They still use a series of tubes filled with refrigerant that absorb and expel heat to achieve your desired temperature, but that’s generally where the similarities end.
Because with a generic HVAC system, the heat transfer is centered around the outdoor condenser unit. That’s where the excess heat is released into the atmosphere or pulled into the air system depending on the function at the time. But a geothermal system utilizes an underground series of tubes to get rid of or add heat to the refrigerant.
These systems use the earth’s natural, relatively stable temperature to regulate the refrigerant flowing underground. When the refrigerant absorbs excess heat, it carries it into the ground and releases it there, away from your home, cooling your interior. And when winter rolls around, just reverse the process to warm your home up!
Is it Efficient?
It’s not only efficient – it’s more efficient than the traditional HVAC system you might already have in your home. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a geothermal system can result in significant energy savings in just a few years. Thanks to their efficiency, geothermal systems’ energy usage pales in comparison to air-based HVAC systems.
That efficiency does come with a drawback, though. Given how extensive installing the network of pipes in a geothermal system can be, the costs associated with installing one can be quite high on the front end. This is an understandable deterrent for some homes, but we believe the benefits of installing one vastly outweigh the cost up front.
Since they’re so reliable and efficient, geothermal systems are roughly 5 times better at providing energy than regular systems, and they last an extremely long time. How long? The mechanical parts are good for roughly 15 years, while the underground pipes themselves have a life of 50-plus years!
Acree Plumbing & Air: Tampa’s Geothermal Cooling Experts
A geothermal cooling system can seem complicated and overwhelming. But that’s what Acree Plumbing & Air is here for! We’ve got the answers to all the questions you may have about this new type of cooling system, and we’ll work with you to determine how a geothermal system can specifically benefit you.
Give us a call at (813) 530-9061 to see how this one change can help you stay cool more efficiently!
