The family who enjoys this geothermal heating system decided to use renewable earth energy back in 1986. Their experience since then has proven the reliability and comfort afforded by geothermal heat pumps. When their original pump in required replacement in 2010, there was no question of whether they would install geothermal again or not. The performance of the geothermal heat pump in their home also led to the installation of a large geothermal heating system on their farm.
Were they to install the system again from scratch, the owners would probably opt for in-floor radiant hydronic heating instead of forced air. Their current system, which collects heat from warm well water by blowing air over a coil, wherein the well water is circulating before being discharged into another well, and then blowing the warmed air throughout ductwork in the home, is called a water-to-air heat pump. From experience, the owners believe they could maintain a lower temperature but more constant heat, if they installed in-floor radiant heating, which would be considered a water-to-water heat pump. There would then be no need for fans. The current system requires circulation for fresh air, so the owners installed a variable speed fan, which is quieter, and more energy efficient.
The homeowners would prefer water-to-water in-floor heating regardless of the fact that water-to-water heat pumps do not provide air conditioning like air-to-air or water-to-air heat pumps, because they are in a windy location, and let the breeze ventilate and cool their home naturally by opening some windows on hot sunny days. Having a pool helps cool off in the summer as well, and they are also considering installing a wind turbine in the future to harness the renewable energy of the wind.
In colder weather, the homeowners heat their pool with heat from their geothermal heat pump. Their first heat pump lasted almost 25 years before its iron water jacket, which is used to transfer heat to the pool, rusted from exposure to chlorine. When that occurred, the owners decided it was easier to replace the entire pump instead of retrofitting the old pump with a new rust-resistant titanium water jacket.
In addition to collecting earth energy, the owners of this home use an advanced wood burning fireplace insert to heat their home with wood. When correctly installed, fireplace inserts are nearly as efficient as new wood stoves, which are designed to burn wood far more efficiently with up to 90% fewer emissions than old stoves.
