Harvey W. Hottel, Inc.

Since 1945

• Residential Services
• Commercial Services
• Geothermal
• Engineering/Design Build

Resources

Open vs. Closed Loop Geothermal Systems

Installing a geothermal heating and cooling system is an energy efficient, environmentally responsible approach to your Northern Virginia home's operating needs. Geothermal systems use the earth as a heating and cooling source. The system operates via a series of pipes, commonly called a "loop", which connect the system's pump to the earth. Two basic kinds of loops exist, which include closed loop and open loop systems.

Closed loop systems are the most common type of geothermal system loop. Closed loop systems include a high-strength, buried pipe filled with an environmentally safe water and antifreeze solution that transfers heat to and from the earth. During the winter, the liquid in the pipe carries warmth from the ground to a unit inside your home, providing constant warm temperature throughout your home. In the summer, the geothermal unit draws heat from your home and carries it through the loop back into the earth, fulfilling the role of a typical air conditioning (AC) system.

Open loop systems operate by tapping into a well and then discharging the water once it has been used. Specifically, the loop draws ground water from an aquifer in your well, which then passes through the pump's heat exchanger and is then discharged to the same aquifer. Open loops are popular in areas where they are permitted, as the temperature of ground water is somewhat constant throughout the year.

Choosing the best system for your home depends on a number of factors, including your budget, preferences, yard space, and availability to a well and adequate water supply. Closed and loop systems operate at nearly the same cost, but open loop systems are usually more expensive to install. Each type of loop system is energy efficient, as geothermal energy is a renewable resource. While geothermal systems can cost more to install than traditional heating and cooling systems, the energy savings add up in the long run.

Contact Harvey W. Hottel Inc. for more information on geothermal heating and cooling systems for your home. Harvey W. Hottel's staff of highly trained professionals specializes in heating and air conditioning, plumbing, and geothermal services and inspections. Based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, Harvey W. Hottel serves the entire Baltimore, Northern Virginia, and Washington metropolitan area.

• Geothermal Heating For Your Northern Virginia Home
• Five Advantages of Geothermal Energy in Your Northern Virginia Home
• What Is A Geothermal Heat Pump?
• Geothermal Benefits
• How Geothermal Heat Pumps (GHP) Function
• Open vs. Closed Loop Geothermal Systems
• Investing in Green Heating
• Harvey Hottel, Inc. installed an environmentally friendly Geothermal Heating and Cooling system on the new Winchester Safety Rest Area & Welcome Center off Route 81 in Winchester, Virginia.
• Geothermal Frequently Asked Questions Received from Baltimore Area Residents