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Geothermal heating and cooling: everything you’ve ever wanted to know

By on Mar 15, 2014 in Cleveland, Cooling, Geothermal, Heating |

Geothermal heating and cooling: everything you’ve ever wanted to know Geothermal energy for your home is a way to heat your house using the earth’s natural heat, instead of using fuel. Just below the surface of the ground there is warmth. It makes sense when you think about it. In school you learned that the Earth’s core is molten lava. So you know that inside the earth it is very hot. The temperature inside the earth gets cooler closer to the surface. Several feet below the surface, the ground has a constant temperature of about 50°F. That is why some animals will burrow into the ground to stay warm during winter. Geothermal heating & cooling is the technology that uses that constant temperature to heat your home in winter, and to cool it in summer. Components of a geothermal system There are three basic components of a geothermal HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) system for you home: The ground loop (pipes), a heat pump, and an air delivery system. Pipes are used to transfer the heat from below the ground, up to your house. Usually liquid, but sometimes air, runs through the pipes being warmed by the earth’s heat. A heat pump, where a contained refrigerant-liquid is held and compressed, raises the temperature up to 100°F. A heat exchanger removes the heat to then use in the house, for winter heating purposes. This process also works in reverse, taking heat out of your house, sending it back into the earth, cooling the air in the summer. Your house water can be heated with this same process. The pipes can run vertically, in a deep and narrow path, or they can be laid out horizontally. This depends on the needs of your home, and the ground surrounding it. The cost of installing a geothermal system depends on these things.  Other factors include the type of ground on your property and the depth to which is needed to reach the ideal temperature. Benefits of geothermal heat The upsides of having a geothermal energy system include cleaner air, since you won’t be using fuel oil for heating, and it is cheaper than using oil. Most people say that the geothermal energy is...

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Alternative Heating Options For Winter

By on Sep 18, 2013 in Cleveland, Geothermal, Heating, Radiant Heating |

Are you looking for a more energy efficient way to heat your home this winter? Consider choosing a radiant heating or geothermal heating as an alternative heating option for your home. Radiant Heating Radiant heating, or floor heating, provides warmth in the home from underneath floors, inside walls and sometimes above ceilings.  Radiant heat is very different from the typical forced air in that it warms surfaces instead of blowing hot air out of vents. There are a few different types of radiant heating to choose from.  Hydronic systems spread water through plastic or metal tubing.  Electric systems use coils in tubing that are heated to the required temperature.  Air radiant systems force heated air through pipes under flooring. Radiant Heating is much more energy efficient than traditional forced-air heating, saving the planet as well as your energy bill by up to 20 percent.  Radiant systems also require much less cleaning, repairs, and maintenance. Geothermal Heating It’s easy to tap into the earth to provide heating in the winter and cooling in the summer.  That’s because the earth maintains a fairly constant temperature of 54 degrees about 10 feet below the surface of the ground. Tapping into the earth’s heat involves digging a hole to contain a loop of pipes.  This series of pipes is then filled with a heat absorbing fluid (often water and antifreeze) that constantly runs through the pipes.  In the winter, heat from the ground is absorbed into the pipes and pushed upward where it can be distributed throughout the house using what’s called a geothermal heat pump (GHP.)  During the summer months, the process is reversed.  Heat from the home is absorbed and transferred to the ground. It’s estimated that homeowners can save up to 70% off their heating and cooling costs compared to traditional heating systems.  Geothermal systems do not use oil or gas, and are 100% non-polluting to run. To learn more about if any of these systems are the right heating and cooling option for you, give us a call...

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Easy ways to go green in Cleveland

By on Jun 20, 2013 in Air Conditioning, Cleveland, Cooling, Furnaces, Geothermal, Heating, Residential |

Whether we are in the height of summer or the dead of winter, our homes use a lot of energy to keep us comfortable.  Sure, our heating and cooling systems are a big part of that expense, but there are other parts of our home that can affect its efficiency.  If you’ve replaced your furnace or air conditioner recently, you may have received an energy audit that showed areas of your home that could use improvement.  If not, we’ve got a few tips that you can use to ‘go green,’ save energy and feel better about protecting the environment. Reduce the temperate on your water heater Most people have their hot water heater set at a higher temperature than what’s needed.  This means you are constantly heating the water in the tank and wasting energy when you’re not using it.  Make sure the temperature is set no higher than 120 degrees.  When you are on vacation, you can turn down the heat so you’re not wasting energy.  We’ve even heard of homeowners who turn the temperature down at night, and then increase it again in the morning just before they shower.  That seems like a lot of work, but if it saves money, it might be worth it! Install a programmable thermostat Most of us go to work for eight to 10 hours a day so there’s no point in keeping your air conditioner or furnace blasting while you aren’t home.  So instead of wasting energy and money, install a programmable thermostat that will automatically adjust the temperature at certain times of the day.  Set the thermostat to pump out some cold air 20 minutes before you arrive home.  Your wallet will be happy. Replace furnace and air conditioner filters Air filters get dirty with dust, pollutants and pet hair.  When they get clogged, the system won’t run as efficiently as it could – plus it’s sending all that dust back through your home.  When your system isn’t running efficiently, you pay the price with increased heating or cooling costs.  Every system is different, so check the manufacturer’s specifications for how often you should change your filter. Schedule regular maintenance Your heating and cooling system is just like a...

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Geothermal heating options in Cleveland

By on Jan 8, 2013 in Cleveland, Cooling, Geothermal, Heating, Residential |

Geothermal heating has been a buzz word lately for homeowners interested in going ‘green’ and saving money on their heating and cooling costs.  So what exactly is geothermal heating and how does it work? Remarkably, this concept of heating and cooling has been used for centuries.  That’s because the earth maintains a fairly constant temperature of 54 degrees about 10 feet below the surface of the ground.  It’s easy to tap into this energy to provide heating in the winter and cooling in the summer. How does geothermal heating work? Tapping into the earth’s heat involves digging a hole to contain a loop of pipes.  This series of pipes is then filled with a heat absorbing fluid (often water and antifreeze) that constantly runs through the pipes.  In the winter, heat from the ground is absorbed into the pipes and pushed upward where it can be distributed throughout the house using what’s called a geothermal heat pump (GHP.)  During the summer months, the process is reversed.  Heat from the home is absorbed and transferred to the ground. Benefits of geothermal heating. There are numerous benefits to this type of heating and cooling.  It’s estimated that homeowners can save up to 70% off their heating and cooling costs compared to traditional heating systems.  Geothermal systems do not use oil or gas, and are 100% non-polluting to run.  While geothermal systems cost more up-front to install, homeowners can typically see those savings returned in five to 10 years.  These systems have an estimated life of 25 years for inside components and more than 50 years for the pipes underground – so you can how the costs savings really add up! It’s estimated that 50,000 geothermal systems are being installed in the U.S. each year.  To learn more about if this system is the right heating and cooling option for you, give us a call...

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