A: Yes. A GSHP (ground source heat pump) can be a combination heating/cooling and hot water heating system. You can change from one mode to another with a simple flick on you indoor thermostat. Using a desuperheater, some GSHPs can save you up to 50% on your water heating bill by preheating tank water.

A: Most of a GSHP installation is underground. Inside the house, the heat pump units are about the same size as a traditional heating and cooling unit.

A: GHSPs are durable and highly reliable. The GSHP contains fewer mechanical components, and all components are either buried in the ground or located inside the home, which protects them from outside conditions. The underground pipe carries up to a 50 year warranty.

A: GSHPs are very quiet, providing a pleasant environment inside and outside of the home. GSHPs have no noisy fan units to disturb outdoor activities on or near the patio.

A: GSHP systems are safe and protected. With no exposed equipment outdoors, children or pets cannot injure themselves or damage exterior units. GSHPs have no open flame, flammable fuel or potentially dangerous fuel storage tanks.

A: Currently installed systems are making a huge difference in our environment! The systems are eliminating more than three million tons of carbon dioxide and are the equivalent of taking 650,000 automobiles off the road. GSHP systems conserve energy and because they move heat that already exists rather than burning something to create heat, they reduce the amount of toxic emissions in the atmosphere. They use renewable energy from the sun and because the system doesn’t rely on outside air, it keeps the air inside of buildings cleaner and free from pollens, outdoor pollutants, mold spores and other allergens. And most units are using environmentally safe R-410A refrigerants.

A: Yes, in most cases. Vertex technicians will be able to determine ductwork requirements and if any minor modifications are needed.

A: Yes. Called dual systems, they can easily be added to existing furnaces for those wishing to have a dual-fuel heating system. Dual-fuel systems use the GSHP system as the main heating source and a fossil fuel furnace as a supplement in extremely cold weather should additional heat be needed.

A: S.E.E.R. stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rate. A.F.U.E. stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency and H.S.P.F. stands for Heating Seasonal Performance Factor. These are the most commonly used terms to describe equipment efficiencies. The higher the number, the better.