Is a Geothermal HVAC System Better for Heating or Cooling?

A geothermal HVAC system can be an extremely efficient and cost-effective option for heating and cooling your home. Still, most people don’t know much about this type of system since geothermal HVAC is fairly new. One question we hear often is whether a geothermal system is better for heating or cooling, and the answer is simple. Geothermal HVAC systems work equally well for both and are far more efficient than a furnace or traditional AC unit. Here’s why.

Geothermal vs Traditional Forced Air Heating

Instead of burning gas to create heat like a traditional furnace, geothermal systems take advantage of the planet’s natural heat. These systems use a series of pipes running underneath the ground. Inside these pipes is a refrigerant liquid that absorbs heat from the ground. This heat is then transferred into the air handler inside the home. As air passes through the handler, the heat is absorbed by the air to warm up the home.

The system works due to the fact that the ground temperature remains constant at 55 degrees no matter how cold it is outside. For this reason, switching to a geothermal system has the potential to reduce your heating costs by 50% or more.

How Geothermal Compares to Standard Air Conditioning

A geothermal heat pump works in almost exactly the same way as a traditional air conditioner except that is far more efficient. Both systems use a condenser unit that is responsible for providing a cold refrigerant to the air handler inside the building. The air handler constantly draws in hot air from inside the house. This air passes over refrigerant coils that absorb the heat, so the air blowing out of the vents is much cooler. South Louisiana’s high ground-water table and consistent soil temperatures actually make our region a great candidate for geothermal systems.

In both types of systems, this heat is then transferred to the condenser and dispersed outside. The big difference is that the geothermal system is much more effective at releasing heat. Instead of trying to disperse the heat into the already hot air outside, the geothermal system transfers the heat underground. Since the ground temperature always remains at a steady 55 degrees, a geothermal system can release the excess heat without using nearly as much energy as a traditional air conditioner. In most cases, a geothermal cooling system will use anywhere from 25% to 50% less energy than a standard AC unit.

We’ve been installing and servicing HVAC systems across Acadiana since 1956, and we’ve seen firsthand how much geothermal can cut energy costs for local homeowners. If you’re curious whether a geothermal system makes sense for your home, call F & R Air Conditioning at (337) 893-5646 and we’ll walk you through the options.