Geothermal Heat Pumps

Geothermal service.
Geothermal service.

Geothermal energy is the heat from the earth and is found most anywhere, including here in the Willamette area.

Because the earth remains at a consistent temperature just below its surface, geothermal heat pumps can utilize the planet’s energy to heat and cool your home. No matter if you live in a climate with fluctuating temperatures or somewhere with a more steady temperature, the temperature below the surface remains relatively stable.

At Mill Creek Heating, we love the efficiency and environmental friendliness of geothermal heat pumps. Our licensed professionals are well-trained in their installation, replacement, repair, and maintenance.

By tapping into the earth’s energy, you can heat and cool your home while using less energy than a typical heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The first 10 feet or so of the ground beneath the surface maintains a temperature between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This is perfect for geothermal heat pumps.

What Is a Geothermal Heat Pump?

Instead of burning fossil fuels like your more traditional heating and cooling systems, geothermal heat pumps simply transfer heat from the earth to your home, and back out. These types of heat pumps can save you up to 70 percent on your energy bill.

This works because your geothermal heat pump utilizes much less energy to reach whatever temperature you designate on your home’s thermostat when the starting point is 55 degrees Fahrenheit—the temperature just below the ground’s surface.

How Does Geothermal Work?

Geothermal HVAC systems transfer the earth’s energy to and from your house via a series of equipment and piping. A heat pump exchanger is a series of pipes called the “loop.” This loop of pipes is buried either vertically or horizontally in the ground or submerged in a pond, depending on your home’s geography.

A fluid—usually water mixed with environmentally friendly antifreeze—is circulated through the piping to absorb and dispel the heat from the ground. This heat is then extracted by the heat pump unit and delivered in or out of your home using conventional ductwork air-delivery systems.

To download a more comprehensive guide to geothermal heating and cooling, click here.

Will a Geothermal Heat Pump Work for Your Home?

Geothermal heat pumps can heat and cool your home. They can even be equipped to provide hot water for your water heater if you choose that option. These heat pumps are very flexible, and our Mill Creek Heating team can install them in new construction or retrofit them to work with existing systems.

Geothermal Heat Pump Advantages

Whether a geothermal heat pump is the best system for you largely depends on the lot size, soil condition, and the landscape of your property. Some advantages of this system include:

  • Does not depend on outdoor temperatures
  • Operates quietly and requires little maintenance
  • Reduces energy usage by up to 60 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
  • Helps control indoor humidity
  • Has no noisy outdoor fans or exposed outdoor equipment
  • Leaves a small environmental footprint as a result of not burning fossil fuels

These systems evenly heat and cool your home without producing the hot and cold air blasts typically associated with conventional HVAC systems. Once you install your system, your savings and comfort begin.

Geothermal Heat Pump Installation and Replacement

Our Mill Creek Heating professionals can install a new geothermal heat pump if you are converting from a gas furnace or we can replace your current heat pump. A geothermal installation is more involved than a traditional heat pump, but our expert installers will be sure your installation is completed in a timely manner.

If this makes a geothermal heat pump more accessible for you, be sure to ask us about the financing options we offer.

Before coming out to your home for your installation, we will have worked closely with you to calculate and design the best geothermal heat pump for your home and budget. We only carry top-quality brands and materials so you can have peace of mind.

We strive to disrupt your daily life as little as possible as we work. Our HVAC professionals will always be courteous and professional in your home, and we will leave our worksite in the same, or better, condition than when we arrived.

 

Geothermal Heat Pumps Qualify for Federal Tax Credits

Under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, the federal tax credit for residential geothermal system installations was increased from 26 to 30 percent, effective January 1, 2023.

The 30 percent tax credit runs through 2032 and then gradually reduces until expiring in 2034.

Here are a few highlights of the geothermal tax credit:

  • The geothermal heat pump must meet ENERGY STAR® requirements.
  • You must own the home where the heat pump is installed, and use the home as one of your primary residences. You cannot use the tax credit on a rental property.
  • You can use the tax credit multiple times—meaning you can apply it to your primary residence and a vacation home. Eligible properties must be located in the United States.
  • The tax credit will not apply if the geothermal heat pump is used solely for heating hot tubs or pools.
  • You can apply the tax credit retroactively to geothermal systems that were installed—or “placed in service” on January 1, 2022.

Geothermal Heat Pump Repair

Because so much of your geothermal heat pump is buried under the earth, you will rarely require a repair. But if the time comes when you do need one, you can count on our Mill Creek Heating geothermal heat pump professionals to promptly arrive and diagnose the issue.

Our team will have your system up and back to its optimum condition in no time. You can rely upon our expertise to make your repair correctly so that once it’s done, it stays repaired.

We are available for geothermal heat pump emergencies 24/7, so if you run into a problem, we are here for you.

Geothermal Heat Pump Maintenance

Like all HVAC systems, your geothermal heat pump requires regular professional preventative maintenance to keep it working at peak energy-efficient levels. Our maintenance experts will inspect, clean, and tune up your system twice a year—once before the warmer weather hits and again before the cool temperatures are here.

Professional maintenance helps reduce unexpected and costly repairs, restores the geothermal heat pump’s efficiency, and helps extend its life expectancy. It will also keep you compliant with your manufacturer’s warranty.

Talk to a Mill Creek Heating team member for information about participating in our maintenance agreement plan, Coz-E-Club. We can save you money and help manage your maintenance.

Call Mill Creek Heating to Discuss Geothermal Heat Pumps

If you have any questions about geothermal heat pumps or would like to talk with one of our professionals about one, call our experts today or request service online today. Our team is always available to help you.

Need Geothermal Heat Pump Service?

Contact the experts at Mill Creek Heating.