Sizing geothermal heating systems

Before installing a geothermal heating system, many important decisions are made to ensure your home will be equipped with a reliable, efficient way to heat and cool your space. One major determination which must be made before designing the ground loop which will gather geothermal energy is the appropriate size for your system. Sizing your system properly will help your home maintain the comfort and savings you’ll expect from your geothermal heating system.

An oversized geothermal heating system

Oversizing your geothermal heating system means the heat pump is too large for your space, your home’s insulation, and the needs created by your climate. When your geothermal heating system has a heat pump that is larger than needed, you’re getting more heating power than what is required for your space; oversizing means you may be paying more than necessary for higher capacity equipment. This extra expense can extend your payback period.

An undersized geothermal heating system

If your geothermal heating system is sized too small, your system won’t be capable of heating and cooling your home as efficiently. When geothermal heating systems are undersized, they must work harder and expend more energy in order to keep your home comfortable. This can lead to much higher operating costs than expected from a geothermal heating system, eliminating much of the savings you expect to gain when switching to a geothermal system. While installation costs are lower when a system is undersized, overall operating costs will be much higher than with a system that was sized correctly.

Installing a geothermal heating system is a significant investment for any home. Working with an experienced geothermal heating system contractor will help ensure you are getting the right system for your needs. Smith Sustainable Design has years of experience designing and installing geothermal heating systems, and takes great care to create the proper system design which will allow you to experience the savings and comfort you expect. Contact us today to learn more about properly sizing your home’s new geothermal heating system.