Heat Pumps: Ground-Source Or Air-Source?

Heat pumps can be one of the most energy-efficient ways to heat and cool your home. Instead of using fuel energy to create heat, they move ("pump") heat from one area to another, a process that requires less energy. There are two main types of heat pumps: air-source and ground-source. An air-source heat pump works by transferring heat to and from the outside air, while a ground-source system transfers heat to and from the ground.Both types are effective, but which one works best for a Tulsa-area home? This depends partly on the size of your property and partly on how much you want to spend in an initial investment versus spending over the long run on utility bills.Ground-source heat pumps usually cost more to install than air-source systems -- up to three times as much. That's because they require digging long trenches in which to bury the extensive pipe loop systems used to exchange heat with the ground. These underground loops can require quite a bit of land area. If a home has a small yard, a ground-source system can usually still be installed by drilling deep (100- to 400-foot) holes in which to install the pipes vertically, but that drilling adds to your costs.  However, recent federal tax incentives allow a 30% tax credit off the entire ground source heat pump cost!Air-source heat pumps can save installation costs, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are the better option. That's because air-source systems have a hard time pulling heat from the outside air when the winter temperature dips below 40 degrees, as it often does in Oklahoma. An air-source system can still heat your home on cold days, but it becomes much less efficient. Ground-source systems avoid this problem, and save energy overall, because the temperature below ground remains fairly constant year-round.Should you spend more now to install a ground-source system that will save money on electricity over the long run, or spend less now but face higher utility bills? At Air Assurance, we can help you answer that. Our experts can evaluate your home to estimate installation and operation costs of each type, taking the guesswork out of the decision. Contact us today. We'll be happy to help.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here. Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.