Geothermal heat pumps are versatile machines that work in a variety of applications including residential, commercial, and new construction. But where geothermal heat pumps became well known for their ability to save homeowners’ thousands of dollars a year was in the retrofit market. Did you know that geothermal is a great choice if you’re planning to upgrade your home’s HVAC system? Here’s the most popular type of heat pump for a retrofit, and how it would work in your situation.
The Nordic R Series Geothermal Heat Pump Retrofit for Oil Furnace Systems
The most popular heat pump for retrofit applications is the Nordic R Series. The R Series is a water-to-air pump, which means it provides forced air heating and cooling through ductwork, and preheats domestic hot water. The Nordic R Series is ideal for homes that are retrofitting from an oil furnace because often the installer only needs to make minor modifications to the existing ductwork. As a bonus, the R Series also delivers central air conditioning through the same ductwork, which can be a great comfort to homeowners who have so far lived without it.
The Nordic R Series Geothermal Heat Pump for Electric Baseboard Retrofits
The Nordic R Series heat pump is also ideal if you are currently heating your home with electric baseboard heat. Even if you don’t have ductwork already installed in your home, an experienced geothermal heat pump installer can install a complete geothermal system including ductwork without significant renovations. Installing ductwork is particularly easy if you have an unfinished basement. That way, you’ll have high-efficiency heating and cooling, preheated domestic hot water and electric baseboards as a backup heat source – a great overall system for the average home.
The Nordic R Series and Preheated Domestic Hot Water
The Nordic R Series heat pump provides forced air heating and cooling, but it also helps homeowners save money by preheating domestic hot water. In the winter, the preheating uses the same efficiency as the rest of the heat provided by the heat pump (a COP of 4). In the summer, your heat pump will provide free domestic hot water by using the rejected heat from the home.
How Much You Can Save By Retrofitting With a Nordic R Series Heat Pump
Let’s look at an example of how much you could save by retrofitting your home. If, as in the example above, you currently have electric baseboards in your home, you’ll save up to 75% on your heating and cooling costs.
So if you spend an average of $350 per month heating your home, you’re new bill should be around:
$350 x 25% = $87.50 per month
That adds up to $3,150 per year in savings!
If you’re considering upgrading your home’s heating system, a Nordic heating and cooling geothermal heat pump could be the perfect choice. They’re ideal for retrofit applications, produce full-service heating and cooling, and highly efficient domestic hot water preheating.
If you’re interested in finding out more, use our Find a Dealer tool to discover an installer near you, or download our Ebook about home renovations: Retrofitting for Improved Heating and Cooling.