Popular Misconception
While people used to think only homes with big yards could have geothermal heating cooling systems, the possibilities now favor even small lots.

Geothermal systems today are reasonable for most yards.  This is good news because of the tremendous energy savings, plus significant tax credits that come with a switch to geothermal.

At first, geothermal installation required lots of yard space because long trenches had to be dug.  But breakthroughs in technology now allow vertical boreholes as deep as 500 feet.

Many geothermal heating cooling systems are being put on smaller urban lots; and contractors say all they need is land the size of a parking space. Federal tax credits now being offered will allow you to recoup 30 percent of the cost of equipment, installation and landscaping costs, so you digging up the yard won’t be as (financially) painful.

How It’s Done
Powerful equipment is used to drill three to five holes near your house.  If space is more restrictive, extremely deep holes are bored.  Pipes are looped together deep under the ground.

Now that advanced technology has made it possible, another new plan that can be used effectively is to install pipes that twist and curl in short loops, like a spring, thus maintaining exposure of pipe length without large space requirements.  Thus, even a horizontal system can be put on a quarter-acre yard.

The method of drilling deep vertical holes is still the preferred and most practical solution for limited yard space.

How to Make Your Decision
Because of the highly technical nature of geothermal heating and cooling systems, you will have to work with a responsible local company to decide what type and what size your system should be.  While some homes will require only a few feet of surface for drilling, larger homes usually require more space.

Boring machines now can steer around obstructions under the ground, but soil composition and terrain will differ from place to place.

The types of geothermal systems a contractor will consider should include:

• Horizontal (typical of, but not limited to, new home construction, or places where there’s plenty of yard space)
• Vertical (often the best choice where your surface area is limited)
• Pond and Lake (if you have these water bodies then special systems can make use of them)
• Open-Loop System (if clean well or surface water can be used to circulate through the system)

Geothermal heating and cooling requires a bit of effort for installation, but the finished product is extremely efficient, easy to maintain and quiet. If you’ve been thinking about making a switch to geothermal, talk to one of the contractors in the ACPro network. With contractors throughout Southern California and Nevada, there’s a good chance we’ve got an expert in your neighborhood.

Our goal is to help inform our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about geothermal heating, cooling and other HVAC topics, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

AC PRO services the Southwestern United States including Southern California and Nevada.  To get started, check out our website or see our special offers.

AC Pro Home Comfort Blog

The end of 2010 brought the expiration of many, but not all, federal energy efficiency tax credits.  If you are worried that you missed the opportunity to take advantage of a valuable tax credit for improvements in your home’s energy efficiency, it’s still not too late to save on newly installed heating and air conditioning equipment.  Federal tax credits for sustainable technology like geothermal heat pump systems are valid through 2016, so you still have the opportunity to save money while increasing the value of your home.

If you’ve been wondering about the advantages of geothermal, these tax breaks are providing an excellent reason to learn more. As you probably know, geothermal systems pull air from an area below ground that remains a constant temperature year-round. Any ENERGY STAR geothermal heat pump system qualifies for the credit, so you have complete freedom to choose the equipment that best fits your needs.

The tax credit covers 30 percent of equipment costs and there is no upper limit to how much you can spend on new equipment.  Unlike many other tax credits, installation costs are also included, so you can save on the entire cost of upgrading your heating and cooling system.  Most geothermal systems also provide hot water for your home, so you can reap even more savings on monthly utility bills.

Geothermal heat pump systems are clean, sustainable, and extremely energy efficient, and the climate is California and Nevada is especially well suited for this type of technology.  Even though the tax credit is valid through 2016, there is no reason to wait; you’ll start seeing energy savings immediately with a new geothermal heat pump system.

Most people are not familiar with the different geothermal equipment and technology available.  An ACPRO certified technician has the knowledge and expertise to help you find the geothermal heat pump system that is the best fit for your home and your family’s heating and cooling needs.  Call AC Pro today to find a dealer near you, request a quote, or learn more about how geothermal energy can improve the energy efficiency in your home and save you money.

AC PRO services the Southwestern United States including Southern California and Nevada.  To get started, check out our website or see our special offers.

AC Pro Home Comfort Blog