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Geothermal basics: down to Earth technology. The Earth absorbs almost 50% of all solar energy and
remains a nearly constant temperature of 50°F to 70°F depending on geographic location. Working with
a customized underground loop system, a ClimateMaster geothermal unit utilizes this constant temperature to exchange energy between your home and the Earth as needed for heating and cooling.
In the heating season, the loop fluid circulates through the loop absorbing heat from the earth and
carries it to your home. The geothermal system then processes the extracted heat and compresses it
to a higher temperature which is then distributed throughout the home using traditional duct systems.
In the air conditioning season, this process is reversed, and the geothermal unit absorbs heat from
inside the home and sends it back to the cooler earth.
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Horizontal Loops
are installed in areas where the soil conditions allow for economical excavation. Taking up more land area than any other loop type, they are used where space permits. Trenches are normally about five foot deep with multiple pipes placed in the trench at different depths. Normally, several hundred feet of trench is required, but where space permits these loops are considered desirable.
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Vertical Loops
are used extensively where land area is limited or soil conditions prohibit digging the more economical horizontal loops. A pair of pipes with a special U-Bend assembly at the bottom are inserted into a bore hole that averages between 150 to 250 feet deep per ton of equipment. These holes are then backfilled with a special grout solution to ensure good contact with the earth.
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Pond Loops
are usually very economical to install. If a pond or lake at least eight feet deep is available, pond loops can utilize the water (rather than soil) to transfer heat to and from the pond loop. A coiled pipe is placed in the water, which should cover about 1/2 acre. An average home would require about 900 feet of pipe. Reduced installation costs and high performance are characteristic of this type of loop.
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Open Loop
installations actually pump water from an underground aquifer through the geothermal unit and then discharge that water to a drainage ditch or pond. The geothermal unit processes the heat energy from the water just like a closed loop installation. Discharging water to a return well is sometimes effective, but sending water to a pond or lake is considered more reliable.
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From an energy efficiency standpoint all loops perform about the same. By using the natural
temperature of the earth, which is relatively stable all year, a geothermal system is the most efficient method available to provide year round comfort and high efficiency performance.
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