Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing Blog: Archive for the ‘Geothermal’ Category

Can Geothermal Heating Really Deal With Our Local Winters?

Monday, February 10th, 2020
geothermal-design

Although humans have drawn warmth from the Earth since they learned how to dig, using geothermal heat as a full home heating solution is relatively recent. Because it’s still new to many people, geothermal heat pumps raise plenty of questions. The most common one: Can this thing actually work in our extremely cold winters?

The answer is, yes. Although you have to make sure that when you decide on a heating system replacement in Frederick, MD to put in a geothermal system, you rely on professionals for the work. A correctly installed geothermal heat pump is a great investment, and the experts will make sure you get the results you need from it.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Geothermal | Comments Off on Can Geothermal Heating Really Deal With Our Local Winters?

The Benefits of Geothermal Cooling

Monday, May 30th, 2016

If you’re in the market for a new air conditioning this summer, there are a lot of options to consider. Traditional air conditioning is always there, but it’s not necessarily the best option for everybody. Geothermal cooling systems have a lot of unique advantages to offer homeowners who use them. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits that geothermal systems offer, and why you should consider installing one this summer.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Geothermal | Comments Off on The Benefits of Geothermal Cooling

Why You Should Consider Installing a Geothermal System This Fall

Monday, September 21st, 2015

Winter is coming, as certain fantasy characters are so fond of telling us. That means that it will soon cease to be air conditioning season and heating season will begin. If you’re in the market for a new heating system, you should consider a geothermal system. Let’s take a look at how a geothermal system operates, and the advantages that it provides.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Geothermal | Comments Off on Why You Should Consider Installing a Geothermal System This Fall

How Long Does Geothermal Installation Usually Take?

Wednesday, August 20th, 2014

If you have any familiarity with how residential geothermal systems operate, then you may have an image in your head of the installation process: large trenches dug into the ground around your home to lay down a series of refrigerant loops that will harness the stable energy of the earth. It seems like an immense amount of work, and it is. This is why you have to hire trained professionals experienced with handling geothermal installation so the job will get done speedily and with no mistakes.

With Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing handling your geothermal installation in North Potomac, MD, you can expect the quality job that will ensure your new geothermal heat pump will work for many years. It’s a small investment in time that will pay off for decades.

But… how much time?

We understand why many people envision that geothermal installation can takes weeks of work to complete. But the process goes fast when professionals handle it.

The planning for geothermal is the part that takes the longest. You need to first have geothermal specialists survey your property and determine if the available space and the soil conditions make installation practical. After that, the installers must decide what type of system will work best (vertical loops, horizontal loops, open loop system, closed loop system) and the layout. This usually takes a week.

Once the actual installation starts, the physical process will usually only last for two days. The time can vary up or down depending on the hardness of the soil and the depth at which the loops must be placed. If you need a vertical loop configuration, which requires deep drilling, the installation may take a day longer than the shallower digging for horizontals loops, which requires larger and more extensive equipment. However, softer soil will make vertical drilling easier. At the most, in extreme conditions, installation could take up to five days. But for the most part, you should expect the process to last only two days. After that, you’ll have loops that can endure for more than 50 years!

And is it worth it?

Yes! If geothermal specialists identify that your house will benefit from installing a loop system for a heat pump, you will enjoy advantages such as performance that works 3–6 time more efficiently than other heating and cooling systems, and reliable heating through the coldest outdoor temperatures. You will also help the environment by lowering emissions.

To get started with geothermal installation in North Potomac, MD, call Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing. Schedule an appointment with our geothermal professionals to learn if your property is ideal for a geothermal heating and cooling system.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Geothermal | Comments Off on How Long Does Geothermal Installation Usually Take?

Is Geothermal a Good Home Cooling Option in Chevy Chase MD?

Monday, March 4th, 2013

For homeowners in the Chevy Chase, MD area looking for an eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuel heating and cooling, geothermal technology is a very attractive option. Geothermal systems harness thermal energy stored in the ground to heat and cool your home. The geothermal experts at Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating provide geothermal installation, repair and maintenance in Chevy Chase, MD and the Montgomery County area. Here are a few considerations that you may want to think about as you start moving forward with geothermal systems.

How Do Geothermal Systems Work?

What is geothermal? Your local geothermal professional will install a long series of pipes underground on your property. The system circulates water or a water-refrigerant mixture through these pipes in order to absorb or disperse heat from the ground. In heating mode, heat from the ground is absorbed and moved into your home. If you are cooling, the moderate temperature of the earth allows the geothermal heat pump to take the heat from your indoor air and disperse it underground. One of the advantages of the geothermal heat pump is that works throughout the year, in summer and winter.

Is it Right For Me?

Deciding whether geothermal is the right cooling option for your home in Chevy Chase, MD depends upon several factors:

  • Topography. Because geothermal systems require piping underground, the topography of your home can impact the installation and operation of the system. The first step is to make sure that you have enough room for the underground pipe loops. Call the Chevy Chase, MD geothermal installation experts at Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating to schedule a consultation.
  • Soil composition. This relates to the topographical location of your home, and it can also impact the installation and operation. Knowing what the underground composition of your property will allow you to make an informed decision when it comes to geothermal cooling.
  • Current system. Switching over to geothermal will involve some changes in the way your system operates, so knowing the details of how those changes will take place is important.

Geothermal is a remarkable technology. It is both eco-friendly and cost-effective, and for that reason, it is growing in popularity throughout America. To learn more about geothermal installation and how it can improve the way you cool your home, call Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating today at 301-670-0034.

Continue Reading

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Geothermal | Comments Off on Is Geothermal a Good Home Cooling Option in Chevy Chase MD?

Geothermal Tip: Geothermal Heating Components

Monday, February 18th, 2013

Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating offers geothermal heating services in Gaithersburg and the surrounding areas. Geothermal heating systems are a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly way to heat your home in the winter, and they can be used to cool your home the rest of the year. They utilize the constant year-round underground temperatures and a heat pump to providing heating and AC.

Understanding the basic components of a geothermal heating system can help you decide whether or not this is the right heating system for your home and your budget. We’ve put together a description of some of the basic components for you in this blog post. Call us if you have further questions.

Horizontal and Vertical Loop Fields

The first consideration you need to take into account is whether or not you want to install vertical or horizontal loop fields. Loops simply refer to the underground pipes that contain a refrigerant and water mixture. If you have a larger property, you can install horizontal loop, which can be installed by using a back hoe. However, if you have a limited amount of yard space, drilling may be required to bury the vertical loop closer to your home.

Geothermal Heat Pump

The loop fields are connected to a heat pump that uses a compressor—just like air source heat pumps—to heat or cool your home depending on the season. The heat pump requires very little energy since it is transferring the heat from the ground, which remains at a constant 55 degrees all year long. A small amount of electricity is used to heat this up to higher temperatures to be distributed to the living spaces of your home. You can also install a geothermal water heater that uses the loop fields in the same way to heat the water in your home.

While the loop fields and heat pump are the two basic components, there are many other smaller components involved that provide even greater energy savings. Call the geothermal experts at Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating  at  301-670-0034 for all your geothermal heating needs if you live in Chevy Chase, MD or the surrounding areas.

Continue Reading

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Geothermal | Comments Off on Geothermal Tip: Geothermal Heating Components

Can You Add Zone Control to a Geothermal System? A Common Geothermal Question

Monday, February 4th, 2013

A geothermal heating and cooling system is a great way to boost energy efficiency in your home and to make it more environmentally friendly. Because a geothermal heating and cooling system does not consume fuel in order to keep your Chevy Chase, MD home comfortable, but rather transfers existing heat, it uses much less energy than traditional systems. There are upgrades that you may choose to make to your geothermal system, though, that can make it even more efficient. Call Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating today to learn more about zone control system installation.

A zone control system is a great way to improve the efficiency of most any forced air heating and cooling system. It does so by granting you more control over how energy is used in your home. Have you ever heated empty bedrooms in your house just because you wanted to make the living room more comfortable? With a zone control system you can avoid this conundrum.

A zone control system installation allows you to break your home up into different temperature zones. Each of these zones can then be controlled independently of the other zones. This means that now you can turn up the heating or air conditioning in the living room when entertaining guests without having to do so in unoccupied rooms upstairs. This level of control allows you to exercise more control over energy use in your home, in turn allowing you to save money on energy costs.

Another great benefit that zone control systems offer is the ability to keep everyone in your home comfortable. Different bodies are comfortable at different temperatures, after all. When you think of it that way there is no reason that your entire house should be heated or cooled to the same degree. With the addition of a zone control system to your geothermal heating and cooling system you can enjoy greater efficiency while keeping everyone comfortable and happy.

Call Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating today at 301-670-0034 for more information about how you can incorporate a zone control system into your geothermal heating and cooling system. Save even more energy and money in your Chevy Chase, MD home. Get the system you need to reduce your carbon footprint and your energy bills at the same time.

Continue Reading

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Geothermal | Comments Off on Can You Add Zone Control to a Geothermal System? A Common Geothermal Question

Heating Tip: How Geothermal Heating Can Make Your Home More Comfortable

Monday, January 28th, 2013

Are you considering installing a geothermal heating system in your Chevy Chase home? Call the geothermal heating experts at Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating to get you started. We can go over all the benefits and installation process.

Here are some of the many benefits of a geothermal heating system:

Energy Savings

Geothermal heating systems use the ground temperatures or the temperatures from a nearby water source to heat your home. Ground temperatures are consistent year round, and the heat pump only needs to use a little energy to convert the heat in to hot or cool air. You also get both heating and cooling in one system. Call us if you would like to know more about energy savings from a geothermal system.

Consistency

Because of how they operate, geothermal systems provide consistent heating and air conditioning. However, they must be installed properly. Call a professional heating contractor you trust to install these systems.

Easy to Maintain and Repair

While routine maintenance should prevent repair needs, you may need to call for repairs at some point. Luckily, these systems are easy to repair for most issues. It’s best to call the contractor who installed your system for regular maintenance and repairs since they will know the system best.

The heating experts at Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating are here to take care of all your geothermal heating needs. From installation to repairs, we have you covered. Call any time for your next service in Chevy Chase or the surrounding area!

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Geothermal | Comments Off on Heating Tip: How Geothermal Heating Can Make Your Home More Comfortable

Why Consider Geothermal Heating?

Monday, January 7th, 2013

As energy costs continue to rise and the green movement continues to pick up momentum, many homeowners are looking for more efficient, affordable and environmentally friendly home heating options. Before you make any decisions about a new heating system for your home, call Tucker’s Air Conditioning & Heating. We have some information about geothermal heating and cooling systems that you may want to consider. There are a lot of benefits that come with this type of heating system, and we can help you decide if a geothermal heating system installation is right for your home and personal heating habits.

A geothermal system, like other heat pumps, does not consume energy in order to heat your home. Rather, it will use just a small amount of electricity in order to transfer existing heat, allowing it to heat your home in a sustainable way as well as cooling it with a simple reversal of the operation. The elimination of the need for fuel consumption greatly reduces the amount of energy your system will use, in turn greatly reducing the amount of money it takes to keep your home comfortable throughout the heating season.

Geothermal heating systems are also very durable and boast long, efficient lifespans. A geothermal loop system is buried beneath the ground surrounding your home or submerged under water on your property. It is from here that heat is gathered as an antifreeze solution or, in some cases, water itself circulates throughout the loop system. The underground loop system will last you decades, and the heat pump itself has fewer moving parts than many other heaters, cutting down on wear and tear.

The fact that geothermal heating and cooling systems rely on heat beneath the ground or under water also makes them more predictable and dependable than other heat pumps, such as those drawing heat from the air. This is because the temperature beneath the ground or water is much less susceptible to fluctuations than the air is. This makes the geothermal heating option more versatile and reliable in harsher climates.

For more information about why you may want to consider a geothermal heating system on your property, contact Tucker’s Air Conditioning & Heating today at 301-670-0034. We have all the information you need. Call us to discover if a geothermal heating system is right for your home.

Continue Reading

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Geothermal | Comments Off on Why Consider Geothermal Heating?

How Does a Geothermal System Work?

Monday, December 10th, 2012

Many homeowners in the Gaithersburg area have begun to hear about geothermal heating and air conditioning systems. At Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating, we’ve been offering geothermal services for many years. We’ve helped lots of homeowners start to take advantage of the benefits of geothermal technology. We get asked a lot about how exactly geothermal systems work. We thought it would be helpful if we put together a quick description of how they work and how they can potentially save you money.

The Ground Loop

10 feet below the surface of the earth the temperature is about 55° F. It remains this temperature throughout the year no matter what temperature the air is above ground. Geothermal systems use this consistent temperature to heat and cool your home. They take advantage of this using a series of coils filled with a water/refrigerant mix buried in the ground.

The Heat Pump

A heat pump in your home is responsible for circulating the refrigerant through the coils and then exchanging heat with the refrigerant through a condensing coil. In heating mode, the coils absorb heat from the ground and carry it to the condensing coil in the heat pump. The heat pump blows cool air from your home across the coils, extracting heat from them and carrying it into the house. In cooling mode, the condensing coils in the heat pump extract heat from the air in your home and then deposit it into the ground.

Geothermal Benefits

Gas fired furnaces and boilers burn fuel to create heat. One of the main benefits to geothermal systems is that in heating mode they don’t need to consume any fuel. They use the free and unlimited energy stored in the ground to heat and cool your home. This allows them to achieve very high levels of efficiency by reducing the amount of energy they use to heat your home. The only energy they require is the electricity to run the heat pump inside your home.

Geothermal Restrictions

Because geothermal systems work because of a series of coils buried in the ground, there are space limitations. Geothermal loops can be installed both horizontally and vertically in the ground. However, if your property doesn’t have sufficient space, a geothermal system might not be appropriate.

If you’re interested in learning more about geothermal systems and if they’re an option for your home in Gaithersburg, contact the experts at Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating. We have years of experience installing, repairing and maintaining geothermal systems. Give us a call today!

 

Continue Reading

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Geothermal | Comments Off on How Does a Geothermal System Work?