With a geothermal heating and cooling system, you use the Earth’s natural heat to warm and cool your property. These types of systems offer many benefits, but some might be hesitant to install one because they believe it will cause damage to their yards and prevent them from keeping a thriving garden.

This blog dives into what geothermal heat pumps are, the benefits of using them, and dissects the question, “Can I have a garden and geothermal heat pump, too?”

What Is a Geothermal Heat Pump?

Geothermal heating and cooling systems tap into the constant temperature of the Earth just below the surface, which remains relatively consistent throughout the year. They are made up of three main components:

• A loop of pipes buried in the ground
• A heat pump
• A duct system

During the winter, the heat pump extracts heat from the ground through the loop of pipes and compresses it to a higher temperature. Then, the warm air is distributed throughout your home via the duct system. During the summer, the process is reversed, and the heat pump takes the heat from your home and transfers it back to the ground, effectively cooling your home.

Types of Geothermal Heat Pumps

The most common types of geothermal heat pumps are closed-loop systems shown. However, it is possible to use an open-loop system that circulates surface water or water from a well through the system and returns it to the ground through a discharge pipe.

Horizontal Loop

This type of system is popular for residential, especially for new construction where an adequate amount of land is available. It requires digging trenches that are at least four feet deep. A 2,000-sq.-ft. house requires 400 ft. of two-foot-wide trenches.

Vertical Loop

For larger commercial properties, vertical systems are often the more appropriate choice because the land area required for horizontal loops would be restrictive. It’s also best to use vertical loops where the soil is too shallow for trenching.

Pond/Lake

Another option for a closed-loop system is possible if there is an adequate body of water nearby. This system draws heat from water rather than from the soil. This can be one of the most cost-effective options available.

Choosing the right type of heat pump for you depends on a variety of factors, including:

• Climate
• Soil conditions
• Available land
• Heating and cooling needs
• Installation costs at the site

Working with a knowledgeable HVAC technician can help you determine the right system for you.

What Are the Benefits of a Geothermal Heat Pump?

There are several choices for homeowners when it comes to heating and cooling their homes, and geothermal heat pumps offer some unique benefits:

• Low Operation Cost: Geothermal heat pumps use 25 to 50 percent less electricity than conventional heating or cooling systems, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Geothermal systems can heat and cool a 2,000-square-foot home for as little as $1 per day
• Environmentally-Friendly: These systems run on clean, renewable energy with no onsite combustion. They can reduce energy consumption and corresponding emissions by up to 44% compared to air-source heat pumps.
• Design Flexibility: You can use geothermal heating and cooling systems in new constructions as well as existing properties.
• Low Operation Noise: With no outdoor compressor or fan, you will not be bothered by a noisy machine.
• Long System Lifespan: The indoor components of a geothermal heating and cooling system typically last about 25 years, and you can expect that ground loop to last more than 50 years. This is significantly longer than the 15 years or less associated with a furnace or conventional AC unit.

Can I Have a Garden and a Geothermal Heat Pump?

Many homeowners love the opportunity to grow and maintain their own garden. Whether it’s a passion project or a more serious endeavor, everyone should have the chance to use their lawn to grow food and herbs if they want to.

Even so, wanting a garden shouldn’t prevent anyone from also experiencing the benefits of geothermal heat pumps. Many homeowners often raise concerns about what will happen to their yards, but it’s a misconception that a garden and a ground source heat pump can’t exist side by side.

However, it does require some planning. Depending on the type of loop you install, you will have to dig up a portion of your yard. Whoever installs the geothermal heat pump should work with you to select a path that will cause the least disruption to your garden.

What Can I Plant After Installing a Geothermal Heat Pump?

As you plan your landscaping and garden after the ground heat pump is installed, you have a few options to consider:

• Grass is often the easiest thing to plant. Whether you lay down sod, or simply reseed the area, the loop underneath will not affect the growth of the lawn. Once the grass comes in, you can mow this area just as you would any other part of your lawn.
• Wildflowers are a more decorative option to plant. The climate in Indianapolis gives you a wide range of choices. With some blooming in early spring and other varieties appearing late in the summer or even early fall, you will have color in your garden almost half the year.
• Smaller ornamental grasses or non-woody perennials are another smart choice because of their shallow root systems, which will not interfere with the functioning of your geothermal loop.

Remember, you’ll want to take into consideration a plant’s ability to handle slight temperature changes before planting it. When a geothermal heat pump is working correctly, it uses the water at the end of the loop to heat or cool the refrigerant going through its lines. As the refrigerant moves through the loop, you may see slight changes in the soil temperature. Plants that will do well are those that adjust to a range of temperatures easily.

While small shrubs are fine, it would be best to avoid trees directly on top of or close to the loop. Trees send out roots to look for water, which is why you have probably seen tree roots disrupting a sidewalk or creating hills and ridges in the yard.

Professional Geothermal Heat Pump Services in Indianapolis and the Surrounding Area

At the end of the day, never let a desire for a beautifully landscaped yard and garden stand in the way of installing a geothermal heating and cooling system at your house. Contact Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical for all your geothermal heating and cooling inquiries and needs today.

We like to think of our team at Chapman Heating and Air Conditioning as a family. Since our customers are such an important part of our business we want them to feel like part of the Chapman family too! What better way to get to know our family than by introducing some of our employees to you on our blog. Meet Chris, our Service Manager and learn about everything he does to make Chapman Heating and Air Conditioning the best business it can be.

Q: What is your official job title and what are some of your responsibilities?

A: I'm the service manager at Chapman and I basically run the service department. I work with 10 technicians and keep their schedules running smoothly. I order parts, work on payroll and make sure my guys get to their appointments. Nothing too glamorous, but it's important to our company.

Q: How long have you worked for Chapman?

A: It will be 16 years in June. I previously worked at a bigger company and I felt like just a number, I didn't really know my coworkers or have connections with them. Once I started working at Chapman I knew this was the right place for me. The company feels like family to me. We get along great and that's important to the success of a business.

Q: What is an average day like for you at the office?

A: Well, I come in about 7 a.m. and I look at the service calls and schedule for the day. I see if we need any parts and go over the schedule with dispatch. Then I will look at logs from the previous day. I'll go over the numbers and orders from the previous day too. I'll quote repairs, order stock and do my best to solve any problems.

Q: What's the best part of your workday?

A: The best part is taking care of the customer. Seeing a happy customer makes all of our hard work worth it. It's nice to see your team members happy too. Our main focus is the customer and sometimes we forget about ourselves, so whenever another employee is having a good day it definitely makes your workday better.

Q: What's the most stressful part of your workday?

A: Oh man, probably when I have five technicians calling me at once. I try and get to everyone and sometimes it will take me a while to get to someone so they might think I'm ignoring them or forgot about them, but I didn't. That can cause a little bit of stress.

Q: What is one heating and cooling tip you like to pass along to your customers this time of year?

A: Our customers need to know that most appliances fail because of lack of maintenance. Just make sure you get your appliances checked. Your heater and air conditioner should each be looked at once a year.

Q: Why should people choose Chapman Heating and Air Conditioning?

A: I know it is cliche, but Chapman really is the best in the industry. We have good people working here and Jeff is great. He takes care of the customers and the employees. Chapman is fair, we don't overcharge and we don't oversell to our customers either. We do our job properly. It's not about the sale, it's about making sure the customer is happy and satisfied with our service.

Now that you know a little more about Chris, hopefully you feel more connected to the Chapman Heating and Air Conditioning family. We have a great staff that can't wait to work with you so give us a call at (317) 207-9378 or stop by our office today!

Think you have what it takes to be a member of our team? Apply Today!