Geothermal Heat Pumps Geothermal heat pumps (sometimes referred to as GeoExchange, earth-coupled, ground-source, or water-source heat pumps) have been in use since the late 1940s. Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) use the constant temperature of the earth as the exchange medium instead of the outside air temperature. This allows the system to reach fairly high efficiencies (300%-600%) on the coldest of winter nights, compared to 175%-250% for air-source heat pumps on cool days. While many parts of the country experience seasonal temperature extremes—from scorching heat in the summer to sub-zero cold in the winter—a few feet below the earth's surface the ground remains at a relatively constant temperature. Depending on latitude, ground temperatures range from 45°F (7°C) to 75°F (21°C). Like a cave, this ground temperature is warmer than the air above it during the winter and cooler than the air in the summer.
Some models of geothermal systems are available with two-speed compressors and variable fans for more comfort and energy savings. Relative to air-source heat pumps, they are quieter, last longer, need little maintenance, and do not depend on the temperature of the outside air.
Even though the installation price of a geothermal system can be several times that of an air-source system of the same heating and cooling capacity, the additional costs are returned to you in energy savings in 5–10 years. System life is estimated at 25 years for the inside components and 50+ years for the ground loop.
When outdoor temperatures fall below 30°F, air-source heat pump have a less-efficient panel of electric resistance coils, similar to those in your toaster, kicks in to provide indoor heating. This is why air-source heat pumps aren't always very efficient for heating in areas with cold winters. Some units now have gas-fired backup furnaces instead of electric resistance coils, allowing them to operate more efficiently.
If you want your home to be perfectly warm in the winter and perfectly cool in the summer, you need an York heat pump. In the winter, the Affinity heat pump captures the heat that is always present in the outside air - even in the coldest of weather - and pumps it into your home. In the summer, it's an air conditioner, pulling the heat out of your home and releasing it outdoors.
With a York heat pump you will enjoy high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratings (SEER) and high Heating Seasonal Performance Factors (HSPF).
Unlike a furnace, a heat pump doesn't burn fuel to create heat. It uses electricity to move heat from one place to another. York's full line of heat pumps offer efficiencies of 8 to 9.85 HSPF, and 13 to 18 SEER. And, you have a wide range of comfort choices to select from, ranging from single-stage Affinity heat pump, on up to the two-compressor model, which offers two-stage cooling, three-stage heating and a humidity control feature.
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