Product FAQ’s

Answer: By using the constant and favorable temperature of the earth as its heat source, 75% of the heat delivered to the building by our pump is renewable energy, therefore efficiency is greatly improved. Mechanical simplicity and the constant earth temperature assure longer equipment life and less maintenance.

Answer: All other geothermal heating and cooling providers in Australia use water-based earth loops to power their systems. Water loops require expensive excavations since they need to be dug deep down into the ground. EarthLinked® is the only system in Australia to use a refrigerant in their earth loops, enabling Direct Energy to offer both lower installation costs (due to less excavation costs) as well as a more efficient use of the earth heat.

Answer: EarthLinked® systems use copper earth loops to directly exchange heat with the earth, thus eliminating the water circulating loop and intermediate heat exchanger. Installation, operating and maintenance costs are thereby reduced. Because of its size, EarthLinked® can be installed in smaller yard space than other systems.

Answer: EarthLinked® eliminates the intermediate heat transfer required by water-based systems. Its direct heat transfer method does not require the circulating pump found in water-based systems. The system is also inherently more efficient because of its modulating refrigerant flow controls.

Answer: Earth Loops can be installed horizontally in pits or trenches using excavators or trenchers, as well as vertically or diagonally using small bore drilling equipment.

Answer: Loops for a 10.5kWth system in pits and trenches can be installed in a single day. Loops using vertical and diagonal bores can be installed in two days.

Answer: In 1980, EarthLinked began research and development of EarthLinked® systems. In 1985, field demonstrations began for six electric utilities from Florida to Michigan. Marketing commenced in 1992.

Answer: Yes. Existing ducting and air handlers can be used with minor modifications and the addition of the earth loops and compressor unit.

Answer: U.S. EPA and DOE have determined that ground source heat pumps have the lowest environmental impact of all heating systems and they reduce energy consumption and corresponding emissions up to 72% when compared to electric heat strips and standard air conditioning. The refrigerant used by EarthLinked® is not toxic, and is the same as that currently used by a majority of the HVAC industry.

Answer: Copper is one of the few metals that exist naturally as an element in the earth. A noble metal, it is essentially immune to corrosion in most underground environments because of the protective film that forms naturally on its surface. In rare exceptions where pH readings exceed safe levels, cathodic protection for the in-ground copper is offered by EarthLinked. With some installations dating back to 1980, EarthLinked has never experienced a field failure of the copper pipe due to corrosion or mechanical damage.

Answer: The standard compressor circulates refrigerant through the earth loops (with sufficient velocity to transport the lubricating oil through the system) while it is heating in the winter or reversing the flow for cooling in the summer. Its patented refrigerant flow controls assure a flooded evaporator condition and full utilization of the condenser for optimum efficiency under all operating conditions.

Answer: The two controls are simple mechanical controls that respond directly to the temperature and velocity of refrigerant flow through the system. They modulate the amount of refrigerant in circulation to assure optimum efficiency at all times. By eliminating sub cooling in the condenser, the system operates at lower refrigerant “head” pressures with increased mass flow, which reduces energy consumption and increases heat transfer system reliability and useful life.

Answer: The velocity of the refrigerant that circulates for heat exchange in the earth loops is crucial because it must maintain a sufficient rate of circulation to continuously transport the compressor lubricating oil. A two-speed compressor would reduce the velocity to the extent that oil would not be returned to the compressor, which would be detrimental to the unit.

Answer: Because the EarthLinked® system does not require an outdoor coil and fan, the compressor unit can be located in a basement, utility room, garage or outdoors. A fully enclosed, well insulated cabinet assures quiet operation.

Click to see photos and steps involved in an actual geothermal installation.

Answer: Yes. The EarthLinked® water heating options include de superheating (providing “free” hot water in the cooling mode) and integrated “on-demand” for year-round domestic hot water. This unit can also provide hot water for radiant in-floor heating.

Answer: Yes our systems are rated according to ARI (the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute).The average heating COP is 3.9, with a cooling mode EER of 17. The system is ETL safety listed and qualified under the EPA EnergyStar® program standards.