The Best Geothermal Installation Options Depend On Your Site
Geothermal heating and cooling can provide many benefits for Florida homeowners. Before you can benefit from a geothermal system, though, it must first be installed. The short-term installation expense dissuades some homeowners from making the investment, despite the long-term savings (and the 30 percent federal tax credit on purchase and installation costs). However, you can limit your investment, and maximize your return, by choosing the right geothermal installation option for your home’s site. And Florida’s geology and abundance of water allow residents to use some of the most cost-effective geothermal installation options available.
If your house sits next to a natural body of water, you may be able to install what is known as a “lake loop.” A lake loop does not necessarily require a lake; any body of water that is large enough and deep enough to maintain a fairly constant temperature could work. A lake loop reduces installation costs by reducing the amount of digging required; the pipe loops used to exchange heat can be simply laid in the water, at the bottom of the lake.
Living next to a body of water may also open up the so-called “open loop” as one of your geothermal installation options, as we’ll discuss next.
If you have a good supply of clean groundwater (or surface water), then an open loop may be your best option. A typical open loop pulls groundwater from a well, and returns it to the ground through a different well. The water flows through the ground between the two wells, effectively forming a loop without requiring any pipe to connect the two ends.
The same thing can sometimes be done with a lake or other body of water, without digging any wells. Water can be pulled out of the lake at one end, and returned to the lake at a different spot.
At Symbiont Service Corp. of Englewood, we would be happy to help you evaluate your site and choose the best geothermal installation option for your situation. As your local geothermal experts, you can contact us with whatever questions you may have about the technology.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about geothermal installation options and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Symbiont Service Corp. serves Englewood, Florida and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
Stay In The Loop
Don't miss out! Like us on Facebook or subscribe to our RSS Feed on Feed Burner and get our latest posts.