Busting myths about geothermal heat pumps
April 2024
A long horizontal ditch-type ground heat exchanger.
by Will Lange, Contributing Columnist
MYTH #1: YOU NEED A BUNCH OF LAND
As someone once put it, “If you have a lawn mower, then you can put in a geo unit.”
With numerous options for the geothermal underground loop systems, that’s true.
A vertical loop is often installed under driveways or even 10-by-10-foot patches of ground. There are many other options including using an existing water well, or a pond, or if you have more than half an acre, a long horizontal ditch is a great solution. If you look up “ground heat exchanger options,” you will find a variety of solutions that might work for you.
A geothermal underground loop system that goes into a nearby pond.
MYTH #2: IT ISN’T SAFE
Since geothermal heat pumps are 100% electrical, there is no combustion of gas or oil in the home for heating. So, there’s no chance of smelly fumes, explosions or carbon monoxide poisoning. Because heat pumps are also certified by independent laboratories, they include safety cutoff switches for every circuit in the system, further enhancing safety.
MYTH #3: ELECTRIC HEAT IS EXPENSIVE TO OPERATE
Some geosystems are installed with electric strip heat for extreme cold weather. And yes, that can add to your electric bill. However, more commonly, modern systems are designed to operate without backup heat all the way down to extremely low temperatures. And if your underground loop system is sized right, no backup heat is needed at all.
MYTH #4: IT’S TOO EXPENSIVE TO INSTALL
Installing geothermal heating and cooling for your home or building is an investment.
Geosystem owners quickly realize their systems are saving them so much money that they are recouping their investments in 5-7 years. With tax credits and other incentives, geo can even cost less than a new boiler or HVAC system to install. When you consider the loop will generally outlive the homeowner and the heat pump will deliver twice the useful life of most alternatives, geothermal makes for a much more attractive investment.