How Ground Source Heat Pumps Work

But how do they work?

By pumping fluid through underground pipes, a ground source heat pump utilises natural heat from the ground. A heat pump then raises the temperature of the fluid—which is then used to supply heating and hot water for the property.  Although these pumps require electricity to operate, the advantage is that they use less electrical energy than the heat they generate.

Essentially, the pump functions much like a conventional boiler in a central heating system—the only difference is that it takes ambient heat from the ground instead of using a fossil fuel to create heat.

Ground source heat pump systems consist of a ground loop array—a series of buried water pipes—and a heat pump, usually located in a plant or utility room.  Depending on the size of the system these ground arrays can require a  large amount of space in which to be installed—ideally, a garden area or field that’s big enough to be accessed by some form of digger or earthmover. 

Once the system is in place, a solution of water and antifreeze is pumped through the ground loop which then absorbs the natural heat from the soil.

The water/antifreeze solution is compressed and passed through a heat exchanger, which takes out the heat and transposes it to the overground pump. The heat is then transferred to your home heating system.