Air-Source vs. Geothermal Heat Pumps: Which Fits Your St. Louis Home?

March 8, 2026

With St. Louis experiencing hot and humid summers alongside chilly winters, having the right HVAC system makes a world of difference. Two high-efficiency systems on the market right now are geothermal and air-source heat pumps. As a homeowner, it’s important to understand the differences between these two systems so that you can make a better-informed purchasing decision. What Are Heat Pumps? Before we dive into the differences between the two, let’s first discuss what heat pumps are. Both of these systems transfer heat rather than generate it by burning fuel. They use a substance called refrigerant alongside a compressor that works to extract heat from one location and move it to another. During the wintertime, a heat pump will pull thermal energy from either the air or the ground and deliver it inside your house. During the summer months, these systems will absorb heat from the air inside your home and release it to the outdoors. In general, heat pumps can deliver between two and five units of heating or cooling for every unit of electricity used. This means their efficiency sits between 200% and 500%. Air-Source Heat Pumps Air-source heat pumps are commonly referred to as just standard heat...

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Do Geothermal Heat Pumps Use Gas?

November 9, 2022

Do Geothermal Heat Pumps Rely on Gas? Here in Saint Louis, MO, geothermal heat pumps offer an environmentally friendly and economical HVAC option for homeowners and businesses. Since the technology’s relatively new to the area, however, plenty of people don’t quite understand how it works. At , we field questions about geothermal heat pumps all the time. One of the most common among them is whether or not geothermal heat pumps use gas to operate. To answer that question, here’s an overview of how geothermal heat pumps work that explains exactly how they heat and cool the buildings they serve. What Powers a Geothermal Heat Pump? To get right to the point, geothermal heat pumps don’t use gas. They operate exclusively on electricity. However, they don’t use the electricity itself to heat or cool a building. This is the point that tends to confuse people who have no experience with geothermal technology, and for good reason. Traditional heating and cooling methods are energy-intensive. Gas or oil-powered furnaces burn fossil fuels to generate heat. Most of them also rely on electricity to power the fans that circulate the heated air around your home. Conventional air conditioning systems also use electricity to...

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How a Zone Control System Saves You Money

November 20, 2020

How a Zone Control System Saves You Money A zone control system built into your HVAC system is an excellent way to exert much greater control over your HVAC system’s operation. This greater control directly translates to savings, refined comfort, and other great benefits. To learn more about how it works, follow along. What Are Zones? In most homes and businesses, the layout of the entire structure is organized into different “zones.” While zones aren’t necessarily marked by physical borderlines, they’re used by your HVAC installer and service technicians to better assign heating and cooling values to the various parts of the structure. For example, a home with three bedrooms might be mapped out to have four or five zones. Each bedroom would likely be considered its own zone, while other major areas of the home are considered to occupy another one or two zones. By zoning out a structure, the professionals can isolate these specific areas and design a system that can adequately affect each of them. Larger homes typically have more zones. Smaller homes have fewer zones or may even just be considered to encompass a single zone. How Zone Control Works As the name suggests, “zone control”...

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Is a Geothermal Heating System Right For Your Home?

May 20, 2016

Geothermal heaters are an environmentally friendly and efficient option available to homeowners. There are a number of choices to consider when choosing the best HVAC system for your home. HVAC systems are installed based on the requirements of your home – either stand-alone or in combination with gas furnace heaters or electric heaters. Geothermal heating systems are an environmentally friendly and efficient option available to homeowners. What are Geothermal Heaters? Geothermal heaters use naturally available heat inside the earth to heat up a living space. Using electricity to run, geothermal heaters have three or four parts, comprising of a heat-generating loop, an indoor unit, and the ductwork. A four-piece heater has an additional air handler. Types of Geothermal Heater There are two types of geothermal heaters, which vary on the type of heat exchanging ground loops. Water source geothermal heaters – This type of heater makes use of water pumps and refrigerant-to-water heat exchangers and tubing that is buried into the ground to extract the earth’s heat. Geoexchange heaters – These heaters use copper-based refrigerant tubing by directly attaching them to the ground, for more efficient heat transfer. Both these types of geothermal heaters are dependable and use electricity. However, the direct geo-exchange heaters prove to be more efficient in the long run...

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Investing in the Future: Geothermal Heating for Your Home

May 15, 2015

After wind and solar energy, geothermal energy is gaining the attention of homeowners interested in green energy. The most common application for geothermal energy is in heating residential homes and commercial establishments. Listed below are five key points about geothermal heating that everyone should be aware of: 1. Geothermal Heating Is Gaining Recognition Geothermal heating technology is not just more available, but it is being used widely across the nation. A popular online resource that connects contractors and homeowners published a report stating that the requests for geothermal systems have increased by over two times in the past year. According to estimates provided by the United States Government’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Consumer Guides, there are almost 50,000 geothermal systems installed in the U.S. every year. 2. Geothermal Heating Saves Money While the upfront cost of installing a geothermal system might appear steep, it’s a smart long-term investment due to significantly reduced operational expenses. According to the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy consumer guide, homeowners typically recoup the initial investment within a relatively short period, usually around 5 to 10 years, through substantial energy savings. As societal consciousness about environmental impact grows, the allure of eco-friendly HVAC systems becomes more pronounced. Homes equipped with...

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Twenty Interesting Facts About Geothermal Energy

May 9, 2014

Geothermal heating and cooling systems can result in significant energy savings. Geothermal heat pumps use far less electricity and produce less noise compared to conventional HVAC systems. The best thing is that geothermal systems have a long lifespan of up to 20-25 years and require minimal maintenance. The Benefits of Geothermal Energy HVAC experts believe that geothermal systems may require a higher initial installation cost, but they pay themselves off in terms of lower energy bills, low maintenance, high durability, and high efficiency. Here are some interesting facts about geothermal energy and how it impacts our environment and our lives. Geothermal energy is generated by tapping heat stored under the earth’s surface. Geothermal energy provides less than 10% of the world’s energy. Geothermal energy is green energy as it poses no threat to the environment. Geothermal energy is cheap compared to conventional energy forms. Geothermal energy is a leading source of energy in Iceland. The country sources 18% of its electricity from geothermal energy. Geothermal energy is primarily used in electricity generation and heating. Geothermal energy is tapped from the earth using geothermal heat pumps. Geothermal energy use produces very low greenhouse emissions; it produces only 3% of the emissions of a fossil...

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