As the sun increases the earth’s temperature, a portion of this heat is absorbed into the ground. Geothermal systems harness this heat by drawing it out of the ground when you need heating. The process also goes backward, moving heat out of your home and depositing it underground for cooling. If you understand how a heat pump functions, a geothermal system is fairly similar.
For the easiest exchange of heat energy, piping filled with water is placed into the ground. You can use well water or a municipal supply, but the priority is to ensure the piping is underneath the property’s frost line, most often between 6 to 10 feet deep. This keeps the pipes from freezing in particularly cold weather.