Can you use geothermal with hot water heat?

For water heating, you can add a desuperheater to a geothermal heat pump system. A desuperheater is a small, auxiliary heat exchanger that uses superheated gases from the heat pump’s compressor to heat water. This hot water then circulates through a pipe to the storage water heater tank in the house.

Can a geothermal heating system be used with radiators?





Myth 3 – Geothermal only works with forced air/duct systems. Truth – Geothermal systems can operate seamlessly with both forced air systems and hydronic systems. While central A/C only works with forced air, geothermal heating can work with forced air, radiator, baseboard, radiant flooring, or any combination system.

Can geothermal be used with a boiler system?

Although it’s possible to size a geothermal heat pump to provide the full design heating requirement of a house or small commercial building, there are other options. One that lends itself well to modern hydronics technology is to combine the heat pump with a boiler.

How many feet of pipe do you need for geothermal?

As a rule of thumb, 500-600 feet of pipe is required per ton of system capacity. A well-insulated 2,000 square-foot home would need about a three-ton system with 1,500 – 1,800 feet of pipe.

Can you use a tankless water heater with a geothermal system?

A tankless water heater can be plumbed into the geothermal system to provide supplemental heat on the coldest of days to the water coming into the ground source heat pump.

How much does it cost to install a geothermal system for a typical home?





between $18,000 to $30,000

For a solution that handles heating, cooling, and at least a portion of your hot water needs, the average starting investment for a geothermal heating and cooling system ranges between $18,000 to $30,000 for this all-in-one solution.

Why is my geothermal bill so high?

Heating costs and the savings associated with a geothermal system are relative to energy prices. As the prices of natural gas, propane, and heating oil increase with respect to the price of electricity, the savings associated with getting geothermal increase too.

Does geothermal use a lot of electricity?

Efficiency. That’s why it takes only one kilowatt-hour of electricity for a geothermal heat pump to produce nearly 12,000 Btu of cooling or heating. (To produce the same number of Btus, a standard heat pump on a 95-degree day consumes 2.2 kilowatt-hours.)

When using geothermal heating for homes the pipes are buried to?



The most common layouts either use two pipes, one buried at six feet, and the other at four feet, or two pipes placed side-by-side at five feet in the ground in a two-foot wide trench.

How deep do you bury geothermal lines?

You have to bury the lines deep enough so that they are completely unaffected by the frost. Usually, that means anywhere from four to six feet deep, though your technician may wish to go a little deeper based on existing trends.

How far down do you have to drill for geothermal?

How deep do you have to dig? For a horizontal loop you only need to dig between 6 – 8 feet deep. For a vertical loop you need to drill between 250 and 300 feet deep.

How long do geothermal loops need to be?



400 to 600 feet long

Horizontal Geothermal Ground Loops
A typical horizontal ground loop will be 400 to 600 feet long for each ton of heating and cooling.

Is vertical or horizontal geothermal better?

The greater depths of the vertical loop system provide a more constant temperature, and are therefore usually more efficient to operate. The improved efficiency varies, but averages approximately 10% over the horizontal loop system.

What type of pipe is used for geothermal?

The type of pipe used for geothermal heating is almost always made of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), and for a good reason. HDPE, and other polyethylene forms, are the best materials for heat pumps, especially if the system has a cooling capacity since this means higher temperatures.

Can you plant trees over geothermal lines?



We would not recommend planting trees over where ground loops are installed for 2 primary reasons: Tree root systems can grow into the loops. It may be difficult to repair or add to the piping system without damaging the tree.

What are 3 disadvantages of geothermal energy?

What are the Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy?

  • Location Restricted. The largest single disadvantage of geothermal energy is that it is location specific. …
  • Environmental Side Effects. …
  • Earthquakes. …
  • High Costs. …
  • Sustainability.

What temperature does geothermal keep your house?

Geothermal systems, though much more efficient operate at between 100 – 120 °F, and are not compatible with distribution systems originally designed for much higher temperatures. You would need almost 3 times the size radiators, baseboards, or length of radiant tubing.

How do I calculate what size geothermal I need?



Assuming your old heater is properly sized you can then use this to calculate the size of the new geothermal heater. 1 ton = 12,000 BTU = 3.5 Kw – So if your existing heater is 48,000 BTU then you would need to purchase as 4 ton GeoCool unit.

How many BTUs do I need for a 1700 square foot house?

For 8,000 – 15,000 BTU, the most appropriate AC units are portable air conditioners.
How Many BTU To Cool 100 to 5,000 Sq Ft (Table)

Square Footage BTU Capacity
How many BTUs for 1700 square feet? 34,000 BTU

What size heat pump do I need for 2000 sq ft home?

Heat Pump Size (In Tons):

You can see for the heat pump size table that, for example, a 2,000 sq ft house requires around 60,000 BTU or a 5-ton heat pump.