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Archive for the ‘Geothermal’ Category

How a Geothermal System Makes Winter Heating Easier

Monday, January 9th, 2017

Heat pumps are becoming more popular as methods for providing heat to homes. However, a heat pump is a two-in-one appliance that works as both a cooling and heating system. Essentially, it’s an air conditioner that can reverse the direction it moves heat. A standard AC draws heat from inside a house and exhausts it outside. A heat pump can cause the opposite to happen: heat drawn from outside and exhausted inside.

If you’re immediately thinking, “How can the heat pump draw heat from the cold air of the winter,” then you’re already on the path toward finding out the advantages of using a geothermal system for your winter warmth. A geothermal system has an easier time delivering winter heat.

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How Can I Find Out if My Home Is Suited for Geothermal Heating and Cooling?

Monday, May 16th, 2016

Geothermal energy is a rapidly growing field in the United States. Today it’s more widely available for residential use than ever before. However, not every heating and cooling contractor offers the benefits of geothermal heat pumps to their customers. But we do!

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How Does a Geothermal System Provide Air Conditioning for a Home?

Monday, April 18th, 2016

When people think of using geothermal power for home comfort, they usually first think of it as supplying warmth for the winter. After all, thermal means “heat.” So it often comes as a surprise for homeowners to learn that a geothermal installation is also capable of working as an air conditioner. And not just any air conditioner, but one that’s more energy efficient and effective than a standard air-source air conditioning system.

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Common Geothermal Repairs

Monday, December 7th, 2015

Many homeowners in our area enjoy the benefits a geothermal system has to offer. While this type of system has less moving parts than a system like a furnace or air conditioner, it can still need repairs. Some may be concerned about the repairs that a geothermal system may incur because of the ground loop. The good news is that a) the ground loop rarely needs repair and; b) the HVAC pros from Comfort Flow Heating can help you with any repair need you may have with your geothermal system in Eugene.

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Is a Geothermal System a Good Choice for Heating?

Monday, November 2nd, 2015

Homeowners have never had so many choices for centralized heating systems. You can choose from traditional heating systems like a furnace or boiler, or you could go with something newer, like a geothermal system. While this system may sound like something futuristic, it really isn’t. In short, it is a system that takes advantage of the Earth’s natural, steady temperature below the frost line to heat your home. Why choose a system like this to heat your home in Eugene? Here are some reasons our customers have chosen this kind of system:

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3 Common Geothermal Repairs

Monday, June 1st, 2015

One of the great benefits of a geothermal system is its longevity. However, this doesn’t mean that your geothermal system won’t ever need repair. Repairs for geothermal systems can incite a level of trepidation in homeowners because of the buried ground loop, but trained technicians know how to handle any repair issues that may develop with your geothermal system, including any that develop with the system’s loop. Here are three of the more common problems that can develop with a geothermal heating and cooling system:

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Stages Involved In Geothermal Air Conditioning Installation

Wednesday, May 7th, 2014

So, you’ve been thinking about having geothermal air conditioning installed for your home. A good choice: you’ll not only invest in more efficient cooling (and heating), you’ll also invest in the environment.

Installing a geothermal heat pump is a large task that involves a number of stages. Fortunately, you can leave most of the hard work to professionals in air conditioning installation in Eugene, OR. You can find them at Comfort Flow Heating.

Here are the stages our geothermal installers go through to deliver the many benefits of geothermal power to our customers:

  • Although the actual placement of the geothermal loops is the most labor-intensive stage of installing a geothermal heat pump, the most detailed stage is the evaluation of the property and sizing the system. The installers must decide on the type of loop configuration (vertical or horizontal) that will work with the space available, and the heat load capacity required to effectively cool and heat the home. In many cases, a 3-ton setup is right for most homes. However, the installers will consider factors such as the soil and local geology and available size for the loops when making these determinations, as well as the standard heat pump sizing concerns (house size, insulation, etc.). Sizing any home comfort system is a complex process, but geothermal systems go beyond in intricacy.
  • The next stage is the installation of the water-to-water heat pump inside a home. Geothermal heat pumps rarely use chemical refrigerant, but rely instead on water run through the loops. The installers place the indoor unit of the heat pump inside the home in a position to hook up to existing ductwork. This work is little different from installing a standard air source heat pump.
  • Next comes the actual placement of the ground loops that carry the water through the soil to deposit heat from indoors (air conditioning mode) or remove it (heating mode). This work will usually take a few days, but the time required will depend on the loop configuration. Shallower horizontal loops need less digging, while vertical loops will use more labor because of how deep they reach. After the loops are set and connected to the indoor heat pump unit, the installers run the system to test for leaks and to see if it cools/heats the home as intended.

Call for Professional Installers

Many homeowners shy away from a geothermal installation because of the idea of their property getting ripped up for loop installation. Although the work isn’t easy, it’s also not as disruptive as many people imagine; with the right installers on the job, it will be finished before you know it, and you can begin enjoying one of the most efficient heating and cooling systems on the market. In only a bit over 5 years, your geothermal air conditioning installation in Eugene, OR will pay for itself in energy savings.

Comfort Flow Heating has a long history of successfully installing geothermal heat pumps, as well as repairing and maintaining them. Contact us today to speak to one of our geothermal specialists.

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Springfield OR Air Conditioning: Are You Ready for Geothermal?

Tuesday, April 30th, 2013

Spring is a great time to take stock of your current air conditioning system. Whether your AC is old, requires frequent repairs, or simply does not perform as well as you think it should, then you may be looking into other options. Depending the location and layout of your home, you might like to consider a geothermal system, particularly if you need an eco-friendly and highly energy efficient alternative. Geothermal systems use the moderate temperature of the ground beneath your feet to provide cooling in the summer and heating in the winter. For superior Springfield OR air conditioning, including geothermal installation, call the experts at Comfort Flow Heating today!

While you may heard the term, you still may be wondering how geothermal works. Basically, a geothermal uses a heat pump attached to a set of underground pipes that circulate water or a water-coolant mixture. While setups may vary from home to home, the basic parts are the same. The underground piping is typically made from a high-density polyethylene (HDPE). This “earth loop” is installed in a relatively shallow, horizontal bed of piping, or, alternatively, in a set of deep vertical wells, with piping at a depth of nearly 100 feet. The choice between these two depends on the soil density and composition of your ground, as well as the location of your home on the property.

The geothermal unit itself is not unlike a heat pump, which pressurizes and circulates the coolant through the loop underground. During the cooling season, the air extracted from the inside of your home is cooled by the moderate temperature of the earth-cooled water or water-coolant mixture. The cool air is then distributed throughout the ductwork. Like a heat pump, the energy efficiency of its operation is excellent; and, like a heat pump, it can reverse the cooling process by using the moderate temperature of the earth to heat your home during the cold months.

Are you ready for geothermal? Speak to a professional about whether your home and property would work well with a geothermal system. For more information about your Springfield, OR air conditioning options, call Comfort Flow Heating today!

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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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