Geothermal Heat Pumps Arkansas
Are you sick and tired of the
rising energy costs? Well, if you are, you’re not the only
one. The truth is that in today’s economy, many families are struggling, with the
uncertainty of job security, gas and oil prices on the rise, your gas bills in the winter can be
astronomical. This is one of the reasons why geothermal heating has become very
popular in Arkansas.
Before we get started, what exactly is
geothermal energy? Well, basically, think of it as heating that is low costs and you
don’t have to worry about these high gas or electric costs every month in the winter.
Geothermal heating works by tapping into the lower portions of the Earth’s crust, where the magma layer is close
by. This area is rather hot and the heat rises to your home. Sounds
simple, right? Well, not exactly.
Geothermal heating is an entire
science of its own. Basically, the initial installation costs of building a
geothermal heating system can be quite pricy, it is worth it, because it pays for itself in the long
run. What happens is that heat rises up from the ground and heats a water
heater. The hot water then can go into heaters throughout the
home. The heat from the ground is free. You do not need to
pay any utility or gas company for natural gas to heat your home. Furthermore,
unlike with forced air heating systems, you don’t have to throw away all that money to the electric
company for operating that fan blowing all that heated air. |
|
The truth is that geothermal heating in
Arkansas works very well, because the state has many hot springs where hot water comes naturally out of
the ground. For geothermal heating, this is ideal. The heat is close
enough to the surface that it can be easily tapped into. If you have a hot spring, it
is fair to guess that if you drill 20 to 100 feet into the ground, you will find steaming hot
water. This water can then be pumped up into a heater and then distributed to heating units
throughout the home. One other great feature about geothermal heat is that you are able
to have heating coils under concrete, stone, or tiled floors, providing your home with warm floors at a much
lower energy cost than with conventional heating systems.
If you don’t live in Arkansas, you don’t
necessarily have to worry about not having the luxury of geothermal heating. The truth is
that geothermal heating can be accomplished in many parts of the United States. What is
even better news is that you do not need to be in an area close to a magma belt to get geothermal
heat.
How does geothermal energy
work?
Very simple. When you
go deep enough below ground, the temperature does not change too much. About 40 to 60
feet below the ground, the temperature can be 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. If you go deeper,
the ambient ground temperature can get warmer. What happens is when you circulate water
deep enough into the ground, it will warm up and then circulate throughout your home. In the
summer time, you can also use the geothermal heating system to cool your home.
There are many different websites and
resources that you can research online to get more information about geothermal energy and see if it’s right for
you. Best of all, if you are one of those who want to get off the grid, geothermal
energy can be the best way to go.
Are you building a home and looking for a custom, geothermal heat pump home?
Visit my home design site at www.rye-homes.com for more
information.

|