Geothermal

GeoExchange systems can also provide all or part of a household’s hot water. This can be highly economical, especially if the home already has a GeoExchange system, hence a ground loop, in place.

One economical way to obtain a portion of domestic hot water is through the addition of a desuperheater to the GeoExchange unit. A desuperheater is a small, auxiliary heat exchanger that uses superheated gases from the heat pump’s compressor to heat water. This hot water then circulates through a pipe to the home’s water heater tank. In summer, when the GeoExchange system is in the cooling mode, the desuperheater merely uses excess heat that would otherwise be expelled to the loop. When the GeoExchange unit is running frequently, homeowners can obtain all of their hot water in this manner virtually free. A conventional water heater meets household hot water needs in winter if the desuperheater is not producing enough and in spring and fall when the GeoExchange system may not be operating at all.

Because GeoExchange systems heat water so efficiently, many manufacturers today are also offering triple function GeoExchange systems. Triple function systems provide heating, cooling and hot water. They use a separate heat exchanger to meet all of a household’s hot water needs.