Operation Modes of a Heat Pump
Outside temperatures fluctuate with the changing seasons, but underground temperatures don’t change nearly as dramatically, thanks to the mass of the earth. Four to six feet below the ground, the temperature remains relatively constant year round. A geothermal system, which typically consists of an indoor heat pump and a buried system of pipes called an earth loop, and/or a pump to re-injection well, capitalizes on these constant temperatures to provide “free” energy.
Winter: Heating Mode
In winter time, fluid circulating through the earth loop or well absorbs stored heat from the ground and carries it indoors. The geothermal heat pump compresses the heat to a higher temperature and distributes it throughout the home.
Summer Cooling Mode
In summer time, the process reverses, and the cooler earth absorbs the heat from the home, returning cooler fluid to the geothermal heat pump. This fluid is typically cooler than the outside temperatures, providing a reduced load for air conditioning your home.
