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Key Differences Between Air to Water and Geothermal

By Nordic

January 26, 2015

Products

air source heat pumps vs geothermal
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If you’re considering an efficient and eco friendly home heating source and are evaluating the key differences between air source heat pumps and geothermal heat pumps, you’re probably curious about which benefits one has over the other. There are a few key differences between these two options, and we’re going to explore them here in detail to help you choose. Either way, you’ll be happy to know that both are significantly more efficient than conventional heating options, like electric baseboard, oil or natural gas heating options. Read on to discover how these two options differ in their heat source, heat collector system and heat distribution system.

Heat Source

The most obvious difference between air source heat pumps and geothermal heat pumps is the where they get their heat.

Air source heat pumps collect heat from the outside air, while geothermal heat pumps absorb heat from the ground. This process is more efficient to do in warmer months but is an increasingly less efficient process in the midst of Canadian winters—when there is less heat in the outdoor air to draw from and more coil defrosts are required.

Geothermal heat pumps collect the readily available and renewable heat that is available just underneath the surface of the earth, and which has a consistent temperature regardless of season. No defrost cycle is required and the units maintain a relatively stable output.

Heat Collector System

The second critical difference is the heat collector system. With geothermal heat pump systems, an antifreeze solution is circulated through pipes buried in the ground to either absorb the grounds’ heat during the cold season, or expel the heat from your home during the warm season. In contrast, an air source heat pump draws its heat from the outdoor air instead.

With Nordic’s ATW Series, the fan is physically positioned outside the home where it operates as required throughout the year. Our air source pump design places the compressor indoors to extend its life by protecting it from harsh conditions.

Heat Distribution System

Another way you’ll find that air source heat pumps and geothermal heat pumps differ slightly is the way that the heat is distributed. With Nordic’s geothermal heat pumps, you can choose whether you’d like your heat to come from radiant in-floor heating or if you’d like both heating and cooling through air ducts.

Our ATW Series delivers heating through a radiant in-floor system and can make chilled water that can be used for forced-air cooling if you install a hydronic air handler. Radiant in-floor heat is a very even and comfortable method of heating and is best suited for new builds where the piping can be installed during construction.

When you’re ready to discover more about which of these eco friendly heating and cooling options would be best suited to your needs, you can download our guide All About Air Source: How Innovative Air to Water Heat Pumps Differ from Geothermal, or find your nearest dealer today to discuss your installation requirements.

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Comments

  1. Reply

    Lewin Parsons

    December 28, 2015

    What is the efficience of geothermal ac in the tropics where the ground water is 80 + degrees

    • First Last

      August 28, 2016

      It will only cool when the air temp is greater than 80 +, sine there is nothing to cause the exchange of energy, which is from warm to cool.

  2. Reply

    Jeronimo Blanco

    November 22, 2016

    What is more cost effective for home heatting in a Mediterranean country Spain. Geothermal or air to water heat exchanger? Thanks

    • Jordann Brown

      November 22, 2016

      Hi Jeronimo,

      You can compare efficiencies of the geothermal heat pump and air to water heat pump by looking at the two brochures. Geothermal heat pumps are almost always going to be more efficient.

  3. Reply

    george caparella

    January 31, 2019

    like in New England in a new house with Geotherm heat & AC. Have a GeoTherm contractor maintain our furnace twice a year. I would like to find other qualified companies in the area to back up our present contractor. How would I do that & do you know of any & what should I look for (like question to ask)?

    • Jordann Brown

      February 01, 2019

      Hi George,
      A great place to start is the IGSHPA business directory: https://igshpa.org/business-directory

  4. Reply

    Yvette Acquart

    December 24, 2019

    Can the Honeywell RTH9585WF Smart Thermostat be used on a geothermal system?

    • Jordann Brown

      January 03, 2020

      Yvette,
      Yes, any modern thermostat that is not meant for baseboard heaters will work with our heat pumps.

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