Geothermal Heating - Ground Source Heat Pump

Ground Source Heat Pump Heating, Cooling, and Hot Water Systems

Waterways Inc. is one of the first Washington State IGSHPA (International Ground Source Heat Pump Association) accredited installers of geothermal systems, or ground source heat pumps. This means we bring our plumbing expertise, timely and courteous service, and highly-qualified staff to one of the newest sources of heating and cooling systems, endorsed by both the DOE (Department of Energy) and EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).

What is a ground source heat pump? In a nutshell, a ground source heat pump is an electrically powered system that can be used to provide heating, cooling, and water heating for homes and businesses by capitalizing on the relatively stable temperature of the earth we live on. By relying on the temperature of the ground, which is a fairly consistent 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, a GSHP system is much more efficient than traditional air-source heat pump systems which rely on the temperature of the outside air for heating and cooling. In the winter, the earth's heat is used to warm the building, and in the summer, the heat is taken from the building and the earth is used as a "heat sink". Using principles similar to a refrigerator, a ground source heat pump can pump heat into the earth of out of the earth by changing the direction the "refrigerant" flows.

A GSHP system can be installed in a myriad of different applications: residential homes of any size and almost any lot size, commercial buildings, schools, businesses—anywhere that an energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly heating, cooling, and water heating system is desired. Not only for new construction, existing homes can be retrofitted with GSHP systems using their own pre-existing ductwork, providing a welcome difference both in the quality of heating as well as the decrease in energy costs!

Proponents of Ground Source Heat Pumps explain that, in addition to providing cost-effective, environmentally-friendly heat, cooling, and water heating, GSHP systems have the ability to cut energy consumption and heating bills by their increased efficiency. In addition, GSHP systems can provide reliable, quiet, consistent heat--as warm as 90 to 105 degrees in the winter! With its components safely buried beneath the ground, these geothermal systems are quiet, impossible to vandalize or harm, safe for kids and pets, and require minimal maintenance. An additional bonus is the ability to utilize the heat obtained by a GSHP system to heat water for the home. This also saves energy and money.

In only a few years, the savings in operating and maintenance costs of installing a ground source heating pump pay for the initial installation and beyond, making it an excellent choice for a heating system. Some utilities even offer rebates or incentives to their customers who purchase GSHP systems!

Waterways' knowledgeable, highly trained staff will be happy to install the ground source heat pump system you need in a timely, courteous fashion, giving you the system you need to utilize the heat already present in the ground beneath your feet!