A ground source heat pump is one of the most energy efficient ways to heat and cool a home. Heat pumps work by moving warm air from one location to another. In the summer, they move heat from inside your home to the outside. In the winter, the process is reversed. The most common type of heat pump used in residential applications is an air source heat pump that is similar to a central air conditioning unit.
Air source heat pumps are an excellent choice for energy efficient heating and cooling in moderate climates, but their efficiency is affected by changes in outdoor air temperatures. They lose heating efficiency when temperatures drop below freezing and cannot cool as well in high temperatures.
A ground source heat pump is even more efficient than an air source heat pump and since underground temperatures remain relatively stable year round, a ground source heat pump is not affected by large changes in the outdoor air temperature.
In a closed loop system, a ground source heat pump uses a coolant pumped through a series of pipes buried underground to extract heat from the ground in the winter and to dump heat in the summer. An open loop system uses ground water, lake water, or well water for heating and cooling. Open loop systems can be problematic because they need a way to dispose of used water. They can also be affected by changes in the local water table.
Ground source heat pumps can be twice as efficient as air source heat pumps, but the initial installation cost is usually much higher. Ground source heat pumps are very quiet and need less maintenance than air source heat pumps. They also last longer, particularly the underground pipe system which can last for decades.
