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Geothermal Heating & Cooling
Outdoor temperatures fluctuate with the changing seasons, but temperatures below the Earth’s surface (typically below six feet) remain relatively constant year round. A geothermal system, which consists of an indoor unit and a buried earth loop, capitalizes on these constant temperatures to provide “free” energy. During the heating season, fluid is circulated through the system’s earth loop and heat is absorbed and carried indoors to the indoor unit. The indoor unit compresses this heat to a higher temperature and distributes it throughout the building. In the summer, this process is reversed; heat is absorbed from the building and distributed into the cooler earth.
Whether your next geothermal project is large or small, new construction or retrofit, Traut Companies has the expertise to help you.
Benefits of a Geothermal Heating and Cooling System
- Efficiency
Ground Source Heat Pumps are rated by their Coefficient of Performance or COP, which typically range from 3.0 to 5.0. This represents efficiencies of 300% to 500%. For every unit of energy used by the ground source heat pump, a properly designed geothermal system will provide 3 to 5 units of heat energy. When compared to a conventional fossil fuel furnace, at efficiency ratings of 75 to 92%, you can see how these units perform so efficiently. This translates into lower operating costs, and less harm to the environment because of the reduced use of fossil fuels.
- Cost effective
On average, a geothermal heat pump and groundsource heat loop system costs about $4,500 per ton of capacity, or roughly $13,500 for a 3-ton unit (typical residential size). In comparison, a conventional system would cost about $4,500 with air conditioning. When included in the mortgage, the homeowner will have a positive cash flow from the beginning. For example, the above scenario might add $50 to the monthly mortgage. The energy cost savings will easily exceed this amount over the course of a year. Comparisons have shown that equivalent homes with conventional heating/cooling vs. geothermal will have energy costs of $3,000 vs. $600 per year, respectively.
- Comfort
Because these systems use the relatively stable temperature of the earth as an energy source, you are assured of constant, even heating in the winter, and better humidity control in the summer.
- Safety
A geothermal system uses no combustion, eliminating the worries of flame, flue, odors or carbon monoxide.
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Installation of a Geothermal Heating and Cooling System
Traut Companies, an International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) accredited installer, can install the heart of your geothermal heating & cooling system; the Heat Loop. These loops are what actually transfer the heat to and from the ground. This is accomplished with a series of loops or a well into the earth. There are two types of loop, the open loop and the closed loop.
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Open Loop System
 In the open loop system, or “pump and dump” as they are often called, water is pulled from the well (often the same well that feeds the domestic water use of the household), run through the heat pump and then discharged outside. This will require a low area or body of water for the discharge. Special consideration must be made when sizing the well pump so that it can adequately supply both the heat pump and household. At Traut Companies, we will usually recommend one of the various “constant pressure” pumps. These pumps operate with a variable-speed motor, and will maintain consistent pressure even during the heat pump’s peak demand.
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Closed Loop System
 These systems are the preferred method because of the environmental and logistical concerns of disposing the water used in an open loop system. In the closed loop, a fluid, usually water with a 15-25% food-grade glycol solution, is circulated throughout the system in a continuous operation. There are many types of closed loops, but the most efficient is the vertical loop. These are the ideal choice when available land surface is limited. A drill rig is used to bore small-diameter holes 70 to 300 feet deep. A loop is then placed into the borehole and grouted into place using a special bentonite-sand mixture designed to increase the thermal conductivity. Due to the depth of the loop, a more consistent ambient temperature is achieved. The series of loops are then connected with a manifold, which can be underground or in the mechanical room of the building. There is no piping seen above the ground surface. There are many factors that go into determining how many loops are required. The most important factor is the heating capacity required for the building. We must also evaluate the thermal conductivity of the soils in the area of the building site, and in many areas, the depth to bedrock. Traut Companies can work with your HVAC installer to determine the number of loops required for your project.
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Traut Companies
141 28th Ave. South Waite Park, MN 56387
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Phone: 320-251-5090
Toll Free: 800-728-5091
Fax: 320-259-0594
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Email: drill@trautwells.com
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