Thermal heat pumps are a relatively new development in home heating, while we took advantage of the thermodynamic properties of the earth for a long time.

So How Does A Thermal Heat Pump Work?

Thermal heat pumps work using the same principle as a standard heat pump system uses: heat transfer. Heat transference is simple to understand. All matter has heat locked inside it. A heat pump basically absorbs or extracts that heat and moves or exchanges it from one type of matter to another.

With a standard heat pump, heat if taken from the surrounding air and carried to another one for heating or cooling. This is a great way to heat and cool a house, if it is located in an area that has a moderate climate: not too hot and not too cold.

But the issue with an air source or regular heat pump is that once the outside temps fall near or low freezing, the heat pump becomes less and less effective. It essentially runs almost constantly in order to maintain some type of comfortable heating in the home. And the more any heat pump runs the higher your bills will be.

On the other hand with a thermal heat pump or earth-based heating system, the heat is extracted from the ground itself. It doesn’t matter where you live the core temperature underground remains at a constant level no matter is happening with the weather.

So basically thermal heat pumps can effectively and efficiently heat and cool almost any size home with struggling to collect heat during icy conditions.

Studies have shown that when you drill below 4 feet underground the average temperature is a steady 50-55 55 degrees Fahrenheit all year round. And these temps just increase the deeper you dig. So a thermal heat pump is easily one of the best ways to cut the average home’s heating or cooling energy by as much as 80%, plus still have plenty of power left to run a large hot water tank and system.

The Thermal Heat Pump Heating Cycle

In order to heat a home in winter, water is pumped into an underground piping loop. The water absorbs the heat from the surrounding ground and transfers it to the main unit on the surface inside your house. Here the water is pressurized and pumped to air handler coil system where air is blown over the coils, capturing the heat and circulated in the house.

The Thermal Heat Pump Cooling Cycle

In summer the entire process is goes in revers. Water is pumped through an air handler coils in the house where it is allowed to absorb the heat from the air circulating there. Then the water is pumped down to pipe loops deep underground. The heat is quickly released into the surrounding ground and the cooled water is transferred to the surface. Here it is pressurized and air is blown across the cold water pipes creating cool air, which then completes the process.

As you can see with the exception of the electrical power to operate the pumps and air handling system, a thermal heat pump is a very good energy saving system when it comes heating or cooling your home and keeping you and your family comfortable in almost any locale.