Do you consider yourself to be an eco-friendly homeowner? When it comes to an efficient and environmentally friendly HVAC unit, nothing compares to a geothermal heat pump system.

Although geothermal heat pumps , which are also referred to as ground-source heat pumps , are more expensive upfront than traditional heating and cooling systems, they can increase the value of your home and lower your energy bills dramatically for years to come.

In our most recent blog, we discuss the advantages of having a geothermal system installed by the HVAC technicians at Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. For all of your heating and cooling needs, contact the NATE-certified technicians at Chapman today.

How do Geothermal Heat Pumps Work?

Geothermal systems have been around for more than 50 years, but they have recently gained traction due to their eco-friendly operation and lower energy consumption. As many as 50,000 systems are installed each year in the United States.

The ground absorbs almost 50% of all solar energy and remains a constant temperature of 50°F to 70°F, depending on geographical location. A geothermal unit utilizes this constant temperature for heating and cooling your home, instead of using the outside air temperature as typical HVAC systems do. Geothermal systems consist of a heat pump and a ground loop, which is a network of fluid-filled pipes that are buried underground at a depth where temperatures stay consistent throughout the year.

• For heating: the ground loop absorbs heat underground, and the fluid inside the ground loop cycles it to the heat pump. Geothermal heat pump components transfer the heat to the air, which is then circulated by the air handler into the rooms in your home.
• For cooling: the heat pump absorbs heat from the inside air. The heat is then transferred to the ground loop fluid, which releases it within the Earth.

The Benefits of a Geothermal System

Although geothermal units are more expensive to install, you can recoup the costs through energy savings over time. Other than that, geothermal units are a great addition to your home. They provide clean, quiet and efficient geothermal heating and cooling through the use of renewable energy. Some of the benefits include:

Longevity

According to Energy Star, a geothermal’s inside components can last an estimated 50 years, while the ground loop is serviceable for up to 50 years.

Quiet operation

Without a compressor or fan that traditional air-source heat pumps and air conditioners use, geothermal units run in almost complete silence, guaranteeing you a good night’s sleep!

Fewer breakdowns

Geothermal systems have fewer moving parts than other heating and cooling systems, which decrease maintenance costs and the chance of breaking down. This will also keep more of your hard-earned money in your wallet.

Environmentally friendly

Geothermal units are the number-one most environmentally friendly HVAC option on the market today , and second place isn’t even close. Geothermal systems require no combustion, like gas and oil furnaces do, and they use renewable energy to heat and cool your home. Geothermal units can reduce enough greenhouse gas emissions that’s the equivalent of taking two cars off the road or planting 750 trees!

Energy efficient

These systems can save homeowners as much as 20 to 50 percent on cooling and 30 to 70 percent on heating. That’s more of your money in the bank!

Tax incentives

Speaking of savings, federal tax credits allow for homeowners to get 26% of the cost of purchasing and installing a geothermal system back in 2020 and 22% in 2021.

Contact Chapman for Installation of a Geothermal System

If you liked hearing about the energy-efficient, eco-friendly benefits of owning a geothermal, or ground-source, heat pump and want to learn more, contact the heating and cooling professionals at Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing today to speak to a representative or to schedule an appointment. The experts at Chapman can perform installation, repairs and maintenance on all types of heating and cooling systems. We can’t wait to hear from you about how we can improve the comfort of your home!

Did you know that heating water accounts for about 30% of the average home’s energy budget? Many homeowners who are looking to save money by lowering their energy bills are turning to tankless water heaters, which are 20% more efficient than traditional tank heaters. A tankless water heater will heat water right when you need it, saving you more water as you don’t have to keep the water flowing while you wait for it to get hot.

So, what’s the big difference between the two, and why does it matter? Tank water heaters are a fine option for most homes, although they are not as efficient as their tankless water heater counterparts. Tankless water heaters work as you need them, not continuously like tank water heaters. This could even save you multiple gallons per minute of water, meaning you’ll have more hot water all while paying less in energy bills per month.

Are you interested in learning more about tankless water heaters (also referred to as on-demand water heaters)? Contact Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to speak with one of our licensed plumbers about having a tankless water heater installed in your home. We’ll let you know if we think a tankless water heater is the best option for your home, and then walk you through the entire process. Chapman offers water heater repair, maintenance and installation for both tank and tankless water heaters.

Tank Heaters

Tank water heaters work by heating a tank of water at a consistent temperature, even when you aren’t using it. This constant heating process does some damage on your energy bill, which is why the tankless water heater option is more efficient.

Do you ever have one of those days where you want to take a nice, long, hot shower after a cold day? Well, a tank water heater might have different plans. As soon as the water in the tank is used, you’re out of hot water until the tank fills back up and heats the water again. When that happens, you’ll only find cold water flow from your shower head. Tankless water heaters, on the other hand, have a flow rate from two to five gallons per minute, giving longer access to hot water than that of a tank water heater.

That said, tank units typically have a lower cost up front, and they are cheaper to maintain. Tank systems can be repaired easily because they have just a few basic components compared to tankless heaters.

Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless heaters heat only as you need it. There is no water being heated over and over again waiting to be used. Without getting too technical, when you turn on the hot water, a heat exchanger is used to heat water. You’ll improve your water usage and save water as it’s heated immediately and ready to use right when you need it.

The heat exchanger transfers heat from an electric coil or gas-fired burner only when you need on-demand hot water. With the electric coil or gas-fired burner only heating water when you need it, you’ll find yourself saving water and energy by not having to wait for the cold water to get hot. You can learn more about the process here, and see the most efficient tankless heater and why our professionals recommend them.

Some of the key benefits of having a tankless water heater installed include:

• Tankless water heaters eliminate standby water loss, which occurs when the hot water in the tank cools back down or when the water cools in the plumbing system before it’s used.
• They provide unlimited hot water. 
• Tankless heaters also provide immediate hot water. You don’t have to wait a minute or two for the hot water to arrive. With a tankless water heater, hot water is available almost immediately. You’ll never have to take a shower with cold water again.
• These units have an extremely long lifespan. Tankless water heaters can last 20 to 30 years, much longer than a tank unit.
• They have a higher upfront cost but will save you money over time.
• Tankless water heaters use an average of 41 less gallons of water per day.
• On-demand units are installed on the wall and take up less space.

That’s quite a few advantages! But to be fair to traditional tank systems, we should point out that the cost of having a tankless water heater installed takes longer and is more expensive because plumbers typically need to relocate existing piping. 

Taking multiple showers at the same time can also cause tankless water heaters to fail to keep up with the demand, as these water heater units have a water flow rate of about two or five gallons of water per minute. If the tankless water heater can’t keep up with the demand, it will only produce cold water.

Contact Chapman for Water Heater Repair, Maintenance or Installation

When you’re ready to make the switch to the more efficient and better-working water heating option, give Matt Harold, our plumbing field specialist, a call. From choosing a tankless water heater to the installation itself, he will help you with all aspects of tankless water heater installation.

I would definitely recommend a tankless water heater, Matt says. It’s an endless supply of hot water and much more efficient than people realize. They take up less room, save energy and have a much longer life span.

Give Chapman, Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing a call to have a tankless water heater installed in your home today. Our team of professional and experienced technicians can install your new tankless water heater as soon as possible. Contact us online to schedule an appointment, or call us at 317-943-8674.