The pros and cons of geothermal heat pumps make them more accessible to people with higher budgets. This is because their installation takes a toll on the budget when high-tech equipment is required to drill holes in the ground. Similarly, it is not everyone’s cup of tea to design and maintain these geothermal HVACs. The reason is they are the most advanced energy innovation and only qualified engineers can take care of their basic functions.
We have come up with a guide to help you make a better decision by going through its pros and cons all in one place. Keep scrolling to read more;
Advantages And Disadvantages of Geothermal Heating and Cooling:
The advantages and disadvantages of geothermal heating and cooling make the geothermal heat pump a constant topic of debate. This is the reason that we have brought forth all its positive points which set it apart from the other energy sources.
Similarly, we have made sure to discuss the flipsides of the geothermal HVAC as well so that you have access to both perceptions. Some of the major pros and cons are;
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Pro: Highly Efficient Heating and Cooling
The geothermal heat pumps provide Highly Efficient Heating and Cooling because they use heat from the earth to balance the temperature of the place they are fitted in. They just require a fraction of the electricity supply to instantly warm or cool the houses or even whole buildings.
How efficient they are can be understood by this comparison that they only take one unit of energy to produce 4.5 units of it. This is the reason that for people who want to make a one-time investment, geothermal HVAC is worth every buck.
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Con: The Higher Upfront Cost of Geothermal
The higher upfront cost of geothermal revolves around $24000 to install a residential geothermal heat pump. This can be costly for the people who have just come across this energy-efficient option. This is why most people are forced to give it a second thought when they want to invest in geothermal HVACs.
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Pro: Low Environmental Impact
These pumps have a low environmental impact because 70% of the energy they use is renewable. This is something that sets it apart from other energy options. This is because the geothermal heat pump can take the energy efficiency to more than a whopping 400%.
If you compare it with the oil furnaces, their efficiency remains stuck at 75% and the same goes for the natural gas resources that cannot go beyond 50%. This is the reason that these pumps cut back on the greenhouse gas emissions. The high-end companies have started showing more inclination towards the appreciation for these pumps.
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Con: Geothermal Requires Skilled Installers and Designers
These pumps require skilled installers and designers that can add to your expenses. This is the reason that before you go on trying the geothermal heat pump, it is important to know that it has a very different working mechanism. It cannot be operated using conventional knowledge about oil and natural gas furnaces.
Instead, it requires specialization in modern energy sources that depict a multifold increase in efficiency without taking a toll on the environment. This can make this process more expensive because you would have to hire installers and designers to get these pumps working.
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Pro: Renewable Heating and Cooling
The geothermal heat pump depicts renewable heating and cooling because it does not use non-renewable energy sources like fossil fuels. About 70% of the energy they consume is renewable, this is why you can expect a tremendous decrease in the energy bills after you have spent a fortune on installing them.
The geothermal HVAC takes heat from the ground that always has a constant temperature of 10 to 15 degrees Celsius. This enables them to use it to their advantage and complement it with the varying temperature of the earth above. This is how the renewable energy that they use takes their performance’s efficiency to sky heights.
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Con: Supplemental Heating
Geothermal heat pumps work with supplemental heating systems. This is because they need a backup in case they come across any obstruction during their performance. This is the same feature that you might have seen in conventional pumps as well.
However, since their working mechanism is not that complex, there is a chance that you might not need this supplemental option. It is what people usually take as a precautionary measure for the heavy snowfall days. It can also come in handy during the festival holidays. Installing the geothermal heat pumps calls for the urgent arrangement of a backup as well.
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Pro: Excellent Reliability and Low Maintenance Requirements
The geothermal HVAC depicts excellent reliability and low maintenance requirements. This is because it does not need a complicated functioning body to carry out its basic functions. The loops of the system remain buried under the ground. This is why you need not spend a fortune on the maintenance of these systems.
With geothermal heat pumps, you do not have to show constant reliance on the experts. Once installed, there is a great chance that they will keep on working without needing any external aid. This is why it can be a reliable purchase to fulfill the energy needs.
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Con: Site Dependent
These heat pumps are site dependent which means you cannot install them just anywhere like a regular electric pump. It is because they work with structural loops. These loops are very specific about the place of installation.
You cannot install them on rocky terrain since it will take an exclusive labor force to place the horizontal loop. A properly smoothened surface is required to accommodate all the compulsory loops. This is something that has exclusively hurt its accessibility feature. This is why it might not be possible for everyone to go for geothermal HVAC.
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Pro: Return On Investment
The geothermal heat pumps offer a huge return on investment since they can save 50% more energy than a traditional electric pump. Apart from this, their reliance on renewable energy and lesser maintenance requirements further add to this feature of geothermal HVAC.
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Con: Geothermal Heat Pumps Still Use Electricity
The geothermal heat pumps still use electricity to provide cheaper energy options. This reliance of these heat pumps on electricity is mandatory because like all conventional pumps they also comprise a fan, compressor, and circulation pipe.
Although all the major processes use energy produced through combustion, these parts need a relatively low source of electricity. This is why you will have to manage a separate electricity connection to make sure that the heat from the earth moves to the upper part of the pump.
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Pro: Long Lifespan
The geothermal heat pumps have a long lifespan of 20+ years. On top of this, the infrastructure that is installed underground can last up to more than 50 years. This is why every buck that you invest in the geothermal heat pump is so worth it!
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Con: Geothermal Ground Loop Installation May Disturb Your Landscaping
The geothermal ground loop installation may disturb your landscaping if you are thinking of installing a vertical geothermal pump. This is because the process may require you to go for excessive drilling in the ground. This will make your landscape prone to being damaged temporarily.
Moreover, these pumps can also affect the soil density resulting in the stagnant growth of your yard’s plants. This is why whenever the geothermal HVAC is installed, the garden of the property suffers the most damage.
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Pro: Reduced Utility Bills
The geothermal pumps offer reduced electricity bills since once installed they can produce more than 400% more energy than obsolete electric pumps.
This is why these pumps can run the power consumption of the whole house while still double the quantity of energy in the backup. This is why it has also become a big hit in the commercial sector as well.
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Con: Geothermal Heat Pumps Are Not always Carbon-Neutral
The geothermal heat pumps are not always carbon-neutral since they still release oxides of Sulphur and Carbon. Although this might be traceable, the Sulphur Oxide they produce is 97% less than the traditional pumps and the same goes for the Carbon Monoxide whose emission shows a 99% reduction.
Conclusion:
Geothermal heat pumps have become a breakthrough in the energy industry. It is because they are highly economical and provide the cheapest energy production that excels the electric pumps in infinite ways. However, their installation can cost an arm and a leg and the place-specific placement affects its accessibility.
This is the reason that although they have revolutionized the HVAC Industry, they still lag when it comes to catering to the majority of the people. It is going to take just easier installation to make it the biggest hit in the industry for the coming eons.