American Standard geothermal
Geothermal heating and cooling systems
Packaged, water to water and split geothermal systems from American Standard, installed by one of the few Tri-Cities contractors that offers them.
Chapter 01
How a ground loop heats and cools a house
If you know how a heat pump works, the inside of a geothermal system will look familiar. The big difference is where it gets its heat. A heat pump works off the outside air. A geothermal system relies on water circulated many feet underground.
Whether it is summer or winter in Kennewick, the temperature underground stays relatively constant. A geothermal system takes advantage of that steady temperature to heat or cool the home efficiently, without depending on how cold the air is above ground on a January night.
Chinook describes geothermal as one of the few options available to Washington homeowners that runs on renewable energy. The figure they cite from the U.S. Department of Energy is that 48 percent of total annual energy costs in a home come from the heating and cooling system.
Two Chinook vans and a Chinook SUV in green and navy livery parked on a residential street below the Tri-Cities hills
Which properties suit a ground loop, and which do not
The equipment is only half of it. A geothermal system also needs somewhere to put the loop, so the property matters as much as the house does. In the Tri-Cities, geothermal is more common for people with a few acres of land who need an efficient source of heating and cooling.
Chinook has written down seven situations where geothermal is worth considering, and they split naturally into two groups: what the property offers, and what you plan to do with the house. Both lists are set out below.
If most of them describe you, the conversation is worth having. Chinook has years of experience installing geothermal systems, and the way to find out is to call and talk to a professional.
Chapter 03
What it costs, how long it takes to pay back, and who stands behind it
In Chinook's words, a geothermal system has the highest installation cost of any heating or cooling option, because of the equipment and the intensive labor. A heat exchanger has to be installed far below ground, and the more efficient a system is, the more complex its components. That price tag is why it is not the most widely used way to heat or cool a home in the United States.
The economic payoff takes much longer than with other systems, typically 5 to 15 years. With high-end components, geothermal systems also tend to carry the most comprehensive manufacturer warranties, which protect against part costs and labor that will come up less often than with a traditional HVAC system.
Chinook is one of the few contractors in the Tri-Cities to install new geothermal systems from American Standard. As a Customer Care Dealer, the company installs packaged, water to water and split geothermal systems.
Chinook Heating & Air. Washington contractor LIC# CHINOHA998MS. Call (509) 736-1121.
Consider geothermal if
Seven signs a ground loop is worth pricing.
Chinook keeps this list on its own geothermal page. The first three are about the land, the other four are about you and the house. Local utilities and government programs often reward geothermal, and the rebates page links to each one so you can check what applies today.
Not sure whether a ground loop or an air-source heat pump is the better fit? Call (509) 736-1121 and talk to a professional, or send a request.
About the property
Water nearby
Your property has access to a nearby body of water, such as a lake, a small pond or even the Columbia River.
Room for the loop
Your property has a minimum of 2 acres of land.
Limited utilities
Your property has limited access to utilities.
About you and your plans
- Lower recurring bills
- You care about the environment and want to reduce recurring utility bills.
- Staying put
- You expect to live in your home for at least 5 years.
- Building new
- You are building a new home and have not yet selected a heating or cooling system.
- A system due for replacement
- Your home's existing heating or cooling system is due for replacement.