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Geothermal Heat Pump Buying Guide

Creative Marketing Manager, Whole Home Expert

Key Points

Geothermal heat pumps provide heating and cooling that is quieter and longer lasting, while maintaining higher efficiency than air-source systems.
Geothermal heat pump components include the pump, ground loops, air delivery, and desuperheater. Many ground-source systems also integrate an auxiliary electric heater.
Ground loop installations are open- or closed-loop. Open-loop systems require a suitable water source, whereas a closed-loop system can be installed in a water source or underground.

Don’t be afraid of the price tag: a geothermal heat pump is one of the most efficient tools available to provide both heating and cooling without sacrificing comfort. They work effectively and can last for decades if properly maintained, but knowing which parts to maintain can be difficult. Unlike popular DIY HVAC systems, geothermal heat pumps require more technical know-how to install and maintain, but that doesn't mean you have to call in a professional for everything. Use our Geothermal Heat Pump Buying Guide to learn critical information about these great home systems and their parts.

Geothermal Heat Pump Benefits

Ground-source technology delivers several benefits:

They take advantage of the relatively constant temperature environment only a few feet below the Earth's surface.
With the right set-up, all systems can heat, cool, and provide hot water.
Geothermal tech is quieter, lasts longer, and operates more efficiently than air-source heat pumps.
Many homeowners save enough money to equal the additional costs in 5 to 10 years.

Geothermal Heat Pump Components

Ground Loop

The ground loop forms an underground, closed pipe network. Filled with refrigerant or water, the ground loop allows the system to exchange heat in a stable sub-surface environment. To simplify this part of the project, a complete geothermal installation kit includes the necessary headers and manifolds to ensure a secure, pressurized connection to the indoor unit.

Pump

The pump component of a ground-source system houses the compressor and other necessary control components. It is housed inside a mechanical room, attic, or basement. However, for properties where indoor floor space is limited, geothermal package unit systems are available that house all components in a single outdoor cabinet. Unlike a heat pump condenser, a geothermal pump is never exposed to inclement weather.

Air Delivery

A forced air geothermal system uses a typical HVAC fan or blower to distribute the heated or cooled air through a duct network. Since most American homes already have ductwork, air delivery systems are common.

Desuperheater

Desuperheater technology enables a geothermal installation to use some of the heat it generates to heat water for household use. Because geothermal can make heat as a byproduct, desuperheaters are a great way to save money on domestic water heating.

Auxiliary Electric Heater

Many ground-source units integrate an auxiliary electric heater into their overall design. The auxiliary heat can assist the system on the coldest days of the year. It is also a good idea to have an emergency heat source available if the regular system malfunctions.

Geothermal Heat Pump Installations

Closed-Loop Horizontal

A horizontal closed-loop installation uses a horizontal, parallel trench network to house the underground pipe network. As a result, the configuration requires substantial surface area to install, and is most popular in rural or suburban areas.

Closed-Loop Vertical

Closed-loop vertical installations bury the refrigerant looping in vertical boreholes, typically spaced a few meters apart. Consequently, they work well for space-premium sites or locations with soil consistency not conducive to broad, shallow trenches.

Closed-Loop Pond/Lake

Sites in proximity to a pond, lake, or other body of water can opt for a closed-loop pond/lake installation. A pond/lake loop is similar to a horizontal loop. The difference is that in a pond/lake loop, the piping is submerged underwater instead of being buried underground.

Open-Loop

Open-loop geothermal installations are the most economical to set up and achieve the highest efficiency ratings in operation. However, many municipal regulations prevent such discharges, and they require access to a good supply and quality of well water.

Forced Air vs Water-to-Water

Forced air geothermal is the most common style of installation in North America. In this type of system, the ground-source equipment is connected to conventional ductwork. As a result, a blower or air handling unit pushes the conditioned air through the network to heat or cool. Water-to-water systems operate differently. A water-to-water geothermal heat pump distributes a heated fluid to radiators or sub-floor pipes to spread heat throughout an interior space. Because of their high heating efficiency, water-to-water is popular in Northern Europe.

Geothermal Heat Pump Top Sellers

Take Up Your Geothermal Questions with IWAE

Geothermal heat pumps are complex systems, so we understand that you may have more questions that our geothermal heat pump buying guide doesn't answer. Feel free to reach out to us via email, chat, or by phone. We'd be happy to answer any questions you have.

28 comments

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Kat Zee

So how much would a heating and cooling system cost for a 1325 sqft home in Southport, NC???? The duct work in the home is established and in good condition.

Tommy McCutcheon

Closed loop pond installation...!How do you keep fish out of geothermal heat pump? Also what is the difference between single stage and 2 stage units?

Dipankar Sutradhar

Hi Tommy McCutcheon, from a user or owner perspective, it means that since the compressor is single stage, it either runs - on or off; while 2 stage compressor has 2 mode (higher or lower stage), and can run full mode high stage when cooling/heating demand is high and lower stage just to maintain certain temperature. Therefore 2 stage can be more efficient of the two. I once found a YouTube video where it shows how it works by the 2 exit hole of the spiral compression mechanism. Quite interesting!

EUGENE j Hampton

if you have in floor heat can you cool that with geo thermal closed loop system

Steve

I am considering an open loop system. My current concern is the water quality of my potable well (it produces more than 30 gpm), What testing do I need? PH, TDS and iron seem like the basics. Are there others elements I should be testing for?

Wayne

I am considering replacing an existing 4 ton FHP unit that served well for about 13 years, but has had several serious problems the last two years. The maintenance costs the last few years are destroying the overall economics of using a Geothermal System. I am therefore looking for the system that will give me the greatest reliability and long lift-time. I see systems with desuperheaters ranging in price from about $3500 to nearly $8000. I would think that simpler systems that cost less may have greater reliability and lifetime. But you usually get what you pay for. Can you comment?

Martha Alvarez

I bought this house it has a geothermal unit. Is not giving warm air. It says E4 lower water temp. I wish I can really find someone that knows how to fix it. Is my first house. I’ve been looking and asking around for any help. I live in New Jersey. Thank you in advance

Wayne carolus

Looking for a replacement combo unit that does both radiant in floor and air to air. 5 ton

Paul B

I live in the central valley of California (Fresno roughly) and want to go geothermal to replace my 25 yr old split system. AC unit is on the ground and gas furnace in attic of 2000 sq ft single level home. I'm on a 12k sq ft cul de sac lot so i have plenty of room for trenches. What's the best method to determine size needed? Current system is 3Ton. Thanks!

Bill Bagby

I have an air to air heat pump now that heats and air-conditiones but needs replacing. I would like to go with a geothermal heat pump because the electric heat backup is kicking in WAY too much. Is a geothermal heat pump going to rely more on it's systems and not the electric backup since the ground will be 50F down a few feet?

Brian Smith

I'm in the high desert of Northern NV. [Reno Area] & Planning to build. Could the trenching for septic system leach-field & Horizontal geothermal loop be incorporated w/ the geothermal loop being below the leach- field drain lines? i thought by combining, moisture would perpetually permeate the sand covering geothermal loop enhancing the transfer efficiency. Also, can the loop be arranged in an Archimedean Spiral ? Any idea on what size system I would need for a 3 BR / 3 Bath / 1500 Sq. Ft. to supply Heating, Cooling, and Hot water ?

Louis Ricciardello

I am in Vermont, I am curious of the cost and if it is cost efficient to go geo thermal. I do have solar panels that produce a fair amount of electricity. Presently I have a propane gas furnace, the house has duct work throughout.. The upper floors are rather warm in the summers and I want them to be cooler. As you are probably aware of our winter temperatures are many days below zero., so I use a lot of propane. The ground area is for example, my water well is 220 feet deep and approximately we drilled through ledge for about 200 feet. We have plenty of room around the house as we have acreage. I would like to geo thermal but I have no idea of the cost. I would appreciate it if you could give me an estimate of the cost. The house is exceptionally well insulated, approximately 4000 square feet, thermal glass all around, house is approximately 10 years old. If possible I would like brochures on GeoCool. Do you know of any dealers and installers in Vermont? We are located in a small town approximately 60 miles west of Burlington, VT and the same distance from Littleton New Hampshire.. our town is called WOLCOTT, ZIP 05680. Thank you.

Richard

Do you sell complete DIY radiant floor, water to water, geothermal packages suitable for Michigan? If so, could you direct me to one on your website?

Don Schaplowsky

I live in Northern Michigan on a well, and have a boiler and Hydraunic baseboard heat throughout. Is it possible to use a geothermal set up for heating with this setup? No ducting in the home. Only the boiler that feeds 4 heat zones with hot water baseboard and one zone for hot water heater.

Mike W.

I will be doing the general construction of a 2700 sq ft home and am very interested in geo thermal systems. Do you sell DIY units that have everything you need to install your own system? Also interested in a back up gas powered home generator. Any help would be great. Thank for your help.