Comfort Flow Heating Blog:
Archive for February, 2013

Springfield OR Geothermal: What are the Cost Benefits of Installing a New Geothermal System

Monday, February 25th, 2013

Homeowners in Springfield, OR are always looking for new, more efficient ways to keep their homes comfortable. If you are interested in a more environmentally friendly, efficient and very effective way to keep your home comfortable throughout the year, call the heating and cooling experts at Comfort Flow Heating. Our professional Springfield OR heating technicians have the information and advice you need to decide if a geothermal heating and cooling system is right for you. Contact us today for more information about the many benefits of a geothermal installation in Springfield, OR.

While the environmental benefits of geothermal technology are commendable, the cost benefits are what many homeowners are especially interested in. A geothermal heating and cooling system uses a heat pump in order to keep your home comfortable. Heat pumps, unlike traditional heating and cooling systems, do not consume fuel in order to heat and cool your home. Rather, they transfer preexisting heat from the ground in order to do so. During the heating season heat is transferred into your home to keep it warm. In the summer months heat is transferred out of your house to keep it cool and comfortable.

While heat pumps in general are renowned for their efficiency, geothermal heating and cooling systems are truly in a class of their own. Because they are buried beneath the ground or submerged under water, geothermal loop systems draw heat from a pretty constant environment. They are not subject to the fluctuations in temperature that air source heat pumps are. This consistency means that you can both rely on the steady performance of your geothermal system and that you will enjoy pretty constant efficiency. Your geothermal system will not require more energy to perform its function on cold winter nights or hot summer days.

There is no way to put an exact dollar amount on the cost benefits of a geothermal heat pump installation. You can be sure, though, that a geothermal system will help you heat and cool your home in a more efficient manner. Do not be deterred by the initial investment. With a highly efficient performance you can offset that upfront cost in long term energy savings. Contact Comfort Flow heating today to schedule geothermal installation in Springfield.

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Springfield OR Geothermal Tip: When to Call for a Geothermal Repair

Monday, February 18th, 2013

Comfort Flow Heating can help you out with all your Springfield, Oregon geothermal needs, including maintenance and repair. We’ve put together a few of the more common repair needs for geothermal systems. Call us if you are having any type of problem with your geothermal heat pump system.

Geothermal Loop Field Repair

The loop fields that are buried either horizontally or vertically under the ground outside your home contain a mixture of water and refrigerant. They can develop leaks over time, or because of extreme weather conditions. Improper installation is another potential cause of leaks in the underground pipes for your geothermal heating and cooling system. If you are having trouble maintaining comfortable temperatures, or you notice a lack of hot water with geothermal water heaters, there could be a leak in the loop field system. Call a geothermal repair technician if you are having these issues.

Geothermal Heat Pump Repair

If you are having trouble with your geothermal heat pump, there could be any number of causes. First, check the settings and the thermostat. Make sure your heat pump is in the heating mode and that your thermostat is on the temperature that you want your home.  Call a Springfield OR heating technician or check your owner’s manual if you aren’t sure how to operate your heat pump or thermostat.

Routine Maintenance and Changing Air Filters

Most heat pump systems, including geothermal heat pumps, will require air filter changes at least once a month. You may have a removable one that can be cleaned and replaced, so be sure to check it often. A dirty air filter can restrict the airflow and reduce the efficiency and the heating or cooling output. You may also need a routine tune-up, so schedule one as soon as you can if you haven’t done so.

Call the Springfield, OR geothermal specialists at Comfort Flow Heating for all your geothermal repair and maintenance needs. Contact Comfort Flow Heating today!

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Springfield OR Geothermal FAQ: Which Geothermal System is Right for Me?

Monday, February 11th, 2013

If you’ve heard about geothermal loop systems and are interested in having one installed at your home, then you’re likely at the point where you’re wondering which loop system is right for you. At Comfort Flow Heating, we provide complete geothermal installation in Springfield, OR. We wanted to help our customers who were interested in geothermal installation but weren’t sure about which loop system was right for them. Here is a short description that we hope will help you ask the right questions during your consultation with your Springfield, OR geothermal specialist.

Geothermal Loop Configurations

There are a few different ways that geothermal loops can be configured in Springfield, OR. Here are some of them.

Horizontal – This configuration involves digging trenches that are about 4 feet deep and laying down the geothermal coils horizontally. This kind of configuration is ideal for new constructions and also for homes that have enough space for the loops.

Vertical – This type of geothermal loop configuration is ideal for larger buildings in Springfield, OR like schools or office complexes that need a long geothermal loop but don’t have the space. With this configuration, 4-inch wide holes are dug at least 20 feet apart. The holes can be anywhere from 100 to 400 feet in depth. The loops are buried in the holes and connected with horizontal pieces that run between them.

Water – If you live near a large enough lake or pond, you may be able to use a water-source geothermal system. In this system, the loops are suspended in the water at least 8 feet below the surface to avoid freezing.

The Open Loop – If the conditions are right, you might be able to use an open loop geothermal system. In this configuration, water is drawn directly from a water source like a stream or a lake. The water is pumped directly into your heat pump and then deposited back into the water source, into a well or some other suitable place. Many local codes need to be met in order for this to be done.

If you have any questions about geothermal installation in Springfield, OR call the heating experts at Comfort Flow Heating. Contact Comfort Flow Heating today!

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$25 Off Duct Cleaning

Friday, February 8th, 2013

Comfort Flow Heating is offering $25 Off your next Duct Cleaning job! It is important that you maintain your heating and air conditioning systems and ensure proper air flow with a regularly scheduled duct cleaning. Give the experts at Comfort Flow a call to schedule an estimate today. This offer ends at the end of the month, so the time is now to take advantage!

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Springfield OR Heating Repair FAQ: How to Prevent Repairs

Monday, February 4th, 2013

At Comfort Flow we believe that every single one of our valued clients deserves to be comfortable on even the coldest days and nights of the year. When your heater is not working properly, though, that can be a real challenge. No heating system is perfect, and the occasional heating repair service is to be expected. That being said, many homeowners in Springfield, OR fail to schedule heating repair services when they are needed, and this leads to bigger, more complex problems. Here is some information about heating repair service for you to consider. Remember, when you need heating repairs in Springfield, contact Comfort Flow.

A lot of homeowners either put off heating repairs because they think that a problem is too minor or they simply fail to realize that there is a problem which requires repair service. Do not let this happen in your home. The longer a necessary repair is neglected the more wear and tear is going to be put on your home heating system. This will affect the efficiency with which your furnace operates, costing you more money than it should to heat your home. It will also lead to bigger, more expensive damages down the road. But how do you know when to schedule heating repair service?

Pay attention to the information that your heater gives you. Keep an eye on your home heating bills. Have they been rising despite the fact that you have not changed your heating practices? If so there is a problem causing that inefficiency.

Any reduction in performance also merits a call to your Springfield heating service provider. If your heater is running longer than usual or taking longer to bring temperatures up it may be in need of professional heating repair services. The sooner these repairs are professionally handled the less serious they are likely to be.

For more information about scheduling heating repair service in Springfield, OR, call Comfort Flow today. We want to help you heat your home more efficiently and reliably. Contact us with any questions or concerns you may have. We have the answers to any questions that you may have.

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