Learn The 3 Major Benefits Of Geothermal Heating And Cooling

Did you know that there’s a whole world of efficient, plentiful and free energy just under your feet? Underground temperatures are far more stable, and stay approximately 60 degrees year-round. You can reap the benefits of geothermal heating and cooling in your central Florida home by capitalizing on this underground energy. 

There are three major benefits of geothermal heating and cooling:

1. Energy efficiency
2. Durability
3. Quiet operation

Energy efficiency
A geothermal system uses a heat pump to either warm or cool your home’s air. In the summer, the system takes the heat from your home, and pumps it back into the ground. In the winter, the system harvests the heat to heat your home. These systems utilize underground loops that circulate liquid that transfers the heat, unlike air-source heat pumps that rely on outdoor temperatures that have wide swings.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a geothermal heat pump can heat and cool from 25 to 50 percent more efficiently than air conditioners, furnaces or air-source heat pumps. Although a geothermal system’s installation costs are higher than more-traditional HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) components, the payback period is shorter because of the significant fuel and electricity savings you’ll reap.

A federal tax credit offsets 30 percent of the cost and installation of these systems, with no upward limit. You can take advantage of this tax credit through Dec. 31, 2016, for qualifying equipment.

Durability

The components of a geothermal heat pump are not exposed to weather, which makes for a highly durable system. The loop field may last as many as 50 years or more, and the indoor air handler can last as long as 25 years with regular maintenance.

Quiet operation

Geothermal heat-pump systems do not use outdoor condensers, which lowers the noise level in and around your home. Furthermore, if you pair your geothermal heat pump with an indoor air handler that uses a variable-speed motor, your indoor noise level will decline even more, as will your electric bill, due to increased energy efficiency.

To learn more about the benefits of geothermal heating and cooling, contact Rinaldi’s Air Conditioning. We’ve provided HVAC services for the Orlando area since 1969.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Orlando, Florida and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about geothermal systems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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