Before I can give you the features and benefits of any Heat Pump System, I need to explain how a Heat Pump System functions. In residential use there are two types commonly used.
Geo-Thermal known as water to air by most technicians. The next type would be a Standard Split System. Outside and inside units, I will explain both types. First the Geo-Thermal. There are two types of Geo units, a closed loop and an open loop. Let me explain the closed loop first.
The Geo –Thermal unit receives most of its heating and cooling capabilities from Mother Earth. The closed loop Geo unit utilizes a double or single flow center and a ground loop. A flow center is either one or two pumps depending on the BTU rating of the Geo needed.
The ground loop is a polymer plastic pipe that is buried in the ground from 5 to 8 feet deep. The size (BTU) of the Geo dictates the length of pipe needed. A normal application of Geo loop pipe is 450’ per ton of air conditioning. A ton of air conditioning is 12,000 BTU. Let’s say you needed a 2 ton unit or 24,000 BTU. That unit would need 900’ of loop pipe. Once the loop pipe is buried, the flow center pumps water through the loop, back to the Geo unit inside your home. The water is pumped through the coaxial and the heat or cool of the water is absorbed and transferred to the air coil via copper pipe. The copper pipe is filled with refrigerant such as 410A and is transferred by the compressor same as a standard A/C unit without getting to technical, that is how a closed loop system operates.
Now the open loop system. Unlike the closed loop, where the same water is circulated over and over by the flow center pumps, the open loop does use a pump. This pump is either a shallow well external pump up to 30’ or a deep well pump below 30’, either pump brings fresh water from the well and pumps it through the same coaxial as the closed loop. The same process applies to the open loop as the closed loop. The water from the open loop is discharged into either a leach bed or a dry well that is in the yard. It is illegal to dump Geo water into a sewer system and not a very good idea for a septic system, considering the amount of water involved. Hopefully, you have a better understanding of what and how a Geo-Thermal System operates. If not call us, we would love to give you more info.
Let me explain how a Split System Heat Pump operates. Much like your existing fossil fuel and air conditioning unit, the Heat Pump System operates the same with a little different twist.
In a standard heating and air conditioning system you have a forced air gas furnace with an outside A/C unit. The heat pump operates pretty much the same way, with a slight difference. The Heat Pump unit is most generally called an air to air system. This unit would take the place of your outside A/C. What happens is this technology is capable of extracting heat from the surrounding air known as ambient air. This unit is capable of extracting heat through the temperature drop in cold weather. As the temperature drops the ability of the heat pump also drops. Ideal temperature for an air to air heat pump is 30 degrees F to 60 degrees F. After 30 degrees F the heat pump starts to struggle. At this point you will need a unit to supplement the heat pump, such as a fossil fuel furnace or an air handler with electric or strip heat .
The difference between the fossil fuel and the air handler is when the heat pump is paired with a fossil fuel unit at 30 degrees F, the outside heat pump stops functioning and the fossil fuel takes care of the entire heating duties of the home.
The same is not true for an electric air handler. The air handler is there only to assist the outside heat pump with temperatures below 30 degrees. This unit runs until the thermostat is satisfied. You can use either fossil fuel or the air handler as emergency heat in case of whatever reasons the outside unit breaks down. You may switch to emergency heat by changing the setting on your thermostat from heat to emergency heat.
In the cooling mode for either system, if they go bad you are going to get hot until you call a technician.
Hopefully at this point you have a little understanding of the two different systems and how they operate.
Now let’s talk about the features and benefits you will experience with either system. The Geo-Thermal unit is rated in an Energy Efficiency Ratio (E.E.R). The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit. The air to air heat pump is rated in a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (S.E.E.R). Both of these ratings are mandated by the Department of Energy.
Now let’s talk about the features and benefits of owning a heat pump system, either Geo-Thermal or Split Air to Air. The first unit to discuss is the Geo-Thermal. These are the advantages of the system over conventional units, such as fossil fuel and A/C unit. This is what to expect: 1) No fossil fuel expense; 2) Lower electrical consumption all year around; 3) Longer life expectancy; 4) New technology; 5) Better performance; 6) New refrigerant 410A; 7) Better heat transfer and more even heat; 
Warrant better; 9) Piece of mind and total comfort. This applies to both systems.
This Blog is Presented by Reliable Comfort Heating and Air Conditioning
Call 24 hours a day 7 days a week
Columbus-812-372-8011
Seymour-812-524-9994
Toll free-1866-524-9994