Geothermal Contractor
If you are seeking the best energy efficiencies for your heating and cooling needs, you should call us to discuss a geothermal system. Sylvander Heating provides expertise in design, installation, maintenance and repair of geothermal systems in Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
We sell and install GeoComfort Geothermal Systems because their units are made in America with the highest standards of quality. Their commitment to continuous improvement and quality control has made reliability one of the GeoComfort brand’s greatest assets. No other geothermal manufacturer has quality testing as extensive. Each and every GeoComfort unit undergoes rigorous testing before it is packaged for shipping. Unit for unit, GeoComfort systems have higher heating capacities and better heating efficiencies than competitive systems. This means GeoComfort Systems have less reliance on supplemental heat and ultimately lower heating costs for our customers.
How Do Geothermal Systems Work?
Geothermal heating and cooling uses ground source energy and relies on the sun to heat the ground at the earth’s surface. Because geothermal systems use the sun’s energy, which is always accessible, they can be installed virtually everywhere in nearly any application.
Geothermal systems use solar energy, which is a renewable energy source. The earth absorbs an amazing 48% of the sun’s energy, leaving a fairly constant underground temperature between 45° and 70° F.
Geothermal Systems use a water solution, which flows through pipes buried in the ground (ground loop system), absorbing heat from the earth in the winter and moving it to the geothermal system inside the house. Once there, the heat is condensed and transferred to the air that is circulated throughout the home, providing warmth when needed.
In the summer, the process is reversed, as the home is cooled by removing heat from inside the home. The geothermal system absorbs heat from the air inside the home and transfers that heat into the ground through the same loop system.
Geothermal Benefits
Lower Operational Costs: Geothermal systems have efficiency ratings of 400 to 500 percent. An efficiency rating is the ratio of heat actually generated versus the amount of energy used to produce the heat. A rating of less than 100 percent means you are losing heat that you are paying for. Your exact savings will be determined by many variables, such as your climate, thermostat setting and electric rate, among others. Most homeowners will see a reduction of 30 to 70 percent in their heating and cooling costs.
A study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency showed that geothermal systems have the lowest life-cycle cost of all heating and cooling systems currently on the market. Lower maintenance costs and longer life expectancy of geothermal units should certainly be taken into consideration when determining true savings.
For more information on geothermal costs, comparisons to conventional systems, and fuel source comparisons, please review GeoComfort’s cost information.
Green: Geothermal systems have a positive impact on the environment since they burn no fossil fuels and operate on a modest amount of electricity. According to the United States Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, geothermal systems are the most environmentally friendly way to heat and cool your home. Geothermal systems are environmentally friendly and are arguably the cleanest energy-producing systems available, as there are virtually no emissions because the system is essentially a closed-loop.
Clean & Healthy: Because the system doesn’t rely on outside air, it keeps the inside air cleaner and free from outdoor pollutants, pollens, mold spores, and other allergens providing a much healthier environment and tremendous relief to allergy suffers.
Longer Life Cycle: You can expect your geothermal system to provide an average of 20 to 24 years of reliable comfort and savings. In comparison, the average life cycle of a conventional system is 13 to 15 years.
Unmatched Comfort: Geothermal systems provide superior air comfort. They demonstrate increased air purification and dehumidification versus conventional systems. In addition to improved air quality, geothermal systems keep indoor air temperatures at consistent levels, eliminating hot and cold spots that are typical of all conventional systems. For ultimate comfort, zoning allows for distinctive temperature adjustments in different areas of your home.
Quiet Operation: Conventional air conditioners and heat pumps require noisy outdoor equipment. Geothermal systems do not. In fact, GeoComfort Compass SeriesTM units feature a patent-pending cabinet design that isolates the unit’s compressor, all but eliminating any rattling or vibration caused by system operation.
Bonus Hot Water: Geothermal systems have the capability of capturing reclaimed heat during heating and cooling modes and using it to heat domestic water. This application can reduce the water heating cost of a four-person household by 50 to 60 percent.
For more information on geothermal heating and cooling, here’s a link to a list of other websites that provide a wealth of resources for your review (go to list).
Geothermal Systems
Some examples of geothermal system designs and layouts are shown below. Please contact Sylvander Heating to discuss the best design for you application.