Sadly, Janet and I failed to realize that a geothermal heat pump has a hard time handling extremely cold weather
When my wife and I I built our dream home, we spent a huge chunk of change on the heating and cooling system. Janet and I are highly energy-conscious, so we looked for a system which would leave the least carbon footprint possible. We spoke with a local HVAC company and communicated our priorities, then he recommended a geothermal heat pump. Janet and I researched geothermal heating and cooling and we learned that this type of temperature control is considered by the EPA to be the most environmentally friendly. It utilizes the readily available energy found below the earth’s surface, the simply moves that heat from one area to another. During the winter, the geothermal heat pump draws from the fairly stable underground temperature to supply warmth to the home. In the summer months, the heat pump just reverses the operation, pulling heat out of the home. This process is so incredibly energy efficient: it produces four units of energy for every single unit of energy it needs to operate. Despite the sizable cost of putting in the underground loop system and heat pump, Janet and I expected to recoup our investment in just a few years. We had heard that this type of system can maintain perfect year round temperature for roughly a dollar a day. Sadly, Janet and I failed to realize that a geothermal heat pump has a hard time handling extremely cold weather. Janet and I live where the winter temperature often drops below zero. No matter how high we turn up the control unit, or how hard the heat pump works, our home remains somewhat chilly. We’ve just purchased several portable heaters to supplement the heat pump so that we don’t freeze inside our house.