Many of us have heard the term ‘ground source heat pump“, but do we even really know what it is? So basically, it’s a heat pump that is installed in the ground and it uses the warmer soil that is there to either heat your home or heat your water. In a nutshell, that’s pretty much all it does. There are pipes and such that move that heat into your home, but when it comes down to it, it’s just transferring heat to your home from the ground.

One of the biggest cons to this is that it’s not cheap to install. The cost alone can turn many homeowners away. Also, if the home is not originally built with it as the heat source, it’s kinda hard to go in after the fact and install it. So if you choose this option, you really need to do it when the home is being built. One more thing to consider is your soil. Depending on what kind of dirt you have around your home, it may not be as efficient in heating. For instance, sandy soil does not do as well and will decrease your heat a small amount.

The pros to having this type of heating however are more numerous than the negatives. It does not cost a lot to run when you need it so you are not spending near as much to heat your home every winter, or to heat your water for your showers. If you are into the green thing, this has no carbon emissions. Many people can also get grants to help install this type of heating and that can help your overall installation cost. At the same time, it will increase the value of your home if done correctly by a reputable company.

Do your own research and see if this might be an option for you in your next home – or in the one you have currently. I’m just now getting my feet wet in learning about the ins and outs of this, and it’s quite interesting.