Geothermal heating and cooling systems work by exchanging heat to and from the earth through an underground loop filled with water. The key to this system is the indoor side of the geothermal system, which consists of the heat pump and ductwork through the house.

Heat Pump

The geothermal heat pump is the workhorse of the entire system. In the winter, it works to pull the heat out of the water that’s coming from the ground loop. This heat can then be sent throughout your home, warming it up in the winter. In the summertime, the heat pump takes heat from inside the home and transfers it to the water, which is sent out into the loop to be absorbed by the ground.

This indoor component of your geothermal system is designed to run very quietly and not take up much space. It requires only a little bit of initial electricity to run, as it only has to work to transfer heat between the water and the air, with the ground loop doing the actual work of cooling and heating the water. Because the heat pump is indoors and sheltered from the elements, you can expect it to run for approximately 20 years.

Ductwork

The ductwork is the other part of the indoor side of your geothermal system. Ducts run throughout the home, providing a way to direct the conditioned air throughout the house. Ensuring that the ductwork is properly insulated and without leaks can help keep your geothermal system running efficiently.

While geothermal heating and cooling systems are usually low-maintenance once they’re in place, you want to have an HVAC expert handle the installation to ensure that everything will run smoothly.

For more information about geothermal heating and cooling in your Sacramento home, contact All Year Heating, Air & Solar. We’ve proudly served the HVAC needs of area homeowners since 1969.