Geothermal Water Heaters

Temperatures swing wildly in Iowa throughout the year, from sweltering 90°F+ heat during the summers down to sub-freezing cold in winters. But there’s a place not far away where the temperature remains stable all through the year: it’s only a few feet down in the ground. This is the secret of geothermal energy systems: using constant ground heat as a source of power. Geothermal heat pumps in homes provide heating and cooling throughout the year—and they can also serve as a way to run water heaters at a fraction of their normal cost.

Geothermal systems for homes are an important part of what we do at Baxter Comfort Solutions. We’re committed to helping homes save by going green, and geothermal heat pumps are one of the best ways to achieve both goals. If you are interested in a geothermal water heater as part of switching to using geothermal power, contact our team. We offer service in Baxter, IA and between the “golden circle” of Ames, Des Moines, Newton, and Marshalltown.

How Geothermal Water Heaters Work

A geothermal water heater is part of a larger geothermal heat pump system that works to provide heated and cooled air to a house. A geothermal heat pump operates through a set of loops buried in the ground that circulate a water and anti–freeze mixture. During the heating cycle, this fluid circulates through the loops extracting heat from the stable temperature of the ground. The heat energy is then transferred to the geothermal unit.

The unit compresses the extracted heat to a high temperature and delivers it to the indoor heat pump. Through a component called a desuperheater, a percentage of the energy from the heat pump is used to power the water heater while the rest of the system provides indoor comfort to the house. Even when the heat pump is working in cooling mode, some of its energy is transferred to the water heater so you can enjoy the benefits throughout the year.

Why Consider a Geothermal Water Heater Installation?

Installing a geothermal system to power a water heater answers multiple needs in your home through a single system. You are not only reducing the amount of electrical power that the water heater needs, but also providing an energy–efficient means of keeping the entire house comfortable. Essentially, the water heater is a "bonus" part of the operation of a geothermal heat pump. While you enjoy the reliability and efficiency of a ground–source heat pump to condition your house, you’re also powering the water heater.

How much will a system like this save you? Government studies have shown that households can cut down the costs of water heating over the year by 50% to 60%. When you combine that with the savings of using a heat pump for indoor comfort, a home can save 75% off its annual heating costs.

We Service Geothermal Systems in Baxter, IA

Baxter Comfort Solutions is the company to turn to when you’re interested in using geothermal power for your home. We are the top geothermal installer and dealer in a 7–state area and have performed hundreds of successful installations over the past 15 years. You can rely on us to equip your home with the right geothermal heat pump to deliver comfort all around the year, as well as the desuperheater and other connections necessary to also power a water heater. When you need system repairs or scheduling for routine maintenance, we’re also available with professional service. Contact us today to learn more about going geothermal.