Your Guide to a Ground Source Heat Pump 

The lowest operating cost of any heating or cooling system is a ground source heat pump. These units collect heat from the ground during the winter and during the summer they disperse heat into the ground. This can be done in both circumstances through the use ponds ,streams or wells. These heat pumps will use up to one third of the electricity used by a regular electric baseboard heater.

When it comes to choosing a specific heat pump, there are actually three basic types to consider. The first one is an air to air pump which gets its energy form the outside air. The next type is a water-loop pump that must have access to a water source nearby such as a lake, pond, stream or well. The last type is the ground source heat pump that takes heat from a circuit of pipes which are buried in the ground.

Here are a few tips concerning the maintenance of your ground source heat pump or any other type of pump. The air filters should be checked monthly to be cleaned or replaced. Once a year you should have your system checked over by a professional contractor who specializes in heat pumps. The outdoor unit should be kept clear of grass, snow, ice or anything else that could accumulate outdoors.

Many benefits are realized when you install a ground source heat pump. The most obvious benefit is that it will cut your energy costs by anywhere from forty percent to seventy percent. The cost of maintenance is also reduced because most of the pump is located indoors, therefore it is not affected by outdoor weather as much. Another benefit of these units is that in most cases, the heating and air conditioning is provided by the same unit. Some models are capable of providing both heating and cooling at the same time. Studies have shown that pumps are extremely reliable and that most people that own one would consider installing one in the next home they purchase.

© 2008: heatpumpsrus.com: ground source heat pump