| Determining which type of geothermal heat pump | | | | installation, called Slinky since it loops the pipe |
| is right for your home depends on the local | | | | around the trench, takes up less space. |
| climate and soil conditions, as well as the available | | | | The vertical system, on the other hand, uses a |
| land. Geothermal heaters work by absorbing heat | | | | narrower trench since the pipe is laid vertically in |
| from the ground and transferring it indoors using | | | | loops. This method of heat pump installation is |
| buried pipes will with water or refrigerant. The | | | | used when the available land area is small or when |
| four types of geothermal or ground source heat | | | | the soil is too shallow for trenches. |
| pumps are horizontal, vertical, lake/pond and open | | | | If the property has a pond or a lake nearby, the |
| loop. The first three are closed-loop systems, in | | | | pipe can be run from the house to the water |
| which the refrigerant or water used in the heat | | | | source and is looped in coils at least eight feet |
| transfer process circulates repeatedly through | | | | underneath the surface to prevent the water or |
| pipes; the last system is open-loop, in which the | | | | refrigerant in the pipes from freezing. |
| water used in heat transfer is returned to its | | | | Finally, if your property has a well or other source |
| source after the heat has been extracted from it. | | | | of clean water, you can install an open loop |
| 1. The horizontal system is best for those who | | | | geothermal heat pump system, in which water is |
| have plenty of available land, since the pipes used | | | | taken from a well, circulated through the system, |
| in heat transfer take up a lot of land area. | | | | and then is discharged back to its source. |
| However, an alternative method of pipe | | | | |