Geothermal Heating & Cooling Services in Columbia, SC

You may or may not know about heat pumps, those climate control systems that can move heat from one place to another by evaporating and condensing refrigerant. They aren’t the only systems that can do that, though. Geothermal HVAC systems are capable of doing the same thing, with a couple of added benefits that make them among the most energy efficient climate control systems on the market. Fulmer Heating & Cooling offers a full range of geothermal services, from installation to repair and maintenance. If you need a geothermal system installed or serviced, we’re here for you. Call today to set up an appointment with one of our geothermal HVAC experts.

Fulmer Heating & Cooling offers a full range of geothermal services throughout Columbia, SC.

What Is a Geothermal Heating & Cooling System?

A geothermal system is similar to a heat pump, in that it evaporates and condenses refrigerant to absorb and vent heat. Normal heat pumps do this by siphoning heat from the air outside the home, though. Geothermal heat pumps do things a bit differently. A geothermal system relies on an underground pipe loop, which is buried around 30 feet belowground. At that depth, the temperature remains at a fairly constant 55–60 degrees Fahrenheit. The loop is filled with water, which is cycled through the central unit in the home whenever it’s operating. The system can either siphon thermal energy from the water, or vent heat from the home into the water before returning it to the loop. This means that geothermal systems can either heat or cool a home.

The Benefits of Geothermal Systems in Columbia, Sc

First and foremost, the ability to either heat or cool a home is a massive advantage over traditional heating and cooling systems. You’re essentially getting two climate control systems for the price of one. The real advantage, though, has to do with how geothermal systems operate compared to regular air source heat pumps. An air source heat pump relies on the amount of thermal energy available in the surrounding air to heat a home. This means that the colder the air gets, the less efficient the heat pump becomes. This only becomes noticeable below freezing temperatures, but it’s a serious issue for air source heat pumps in freezing environments. Geothermal heat pumps have a practically infinite supply of thermal energy due to their subterranean access. No matter how cold it gets, a geothermal system is going to always have thermal energy available to it.

We Install and Service Geothermal Systems in Columbia, SC

Installing a geothermal system is, as you might imagine, not as easy as installing a furnace. The pipe loop needs to be installed, which means a fair amount of digging to get to the proper depth. On top of that, the traditional concerns of electrical and air duct interfacing come into play the same as any other climate control system. This is not a do–it–yourself project. If you need to have a geothermal system installed, call Fulmer Heating & Cooling. We can take care of your installation needs for you. We also offer full repair and maintenance services.