Going Green, Saving Green: How Geothermal Heating Works for Your Des Moines Home

Iowa winters are no joke. One week it is mild enough to get by with a light jacket, and the next you are shoveling a driveway covered in ice while your furnace runs non-stop. Heating costs climb fast, and even then, it is tough to keep your home comfortable through the swings.

That is why more folks in Des Moines are looking at geothermal heating. At first, it sounds like science fiction, pulling heat out of the ground in the dead of winter or dumping heat back into it during a July heat wave. But there is nothing mysterious about it. The system works by using something Iowa has plenty of: steady ground temperature just a few feet under our feet. Let’s walk through how it works.

The Core Concept: Tapping into the Earth's Power

Head down into a basement or step into a cave, and you notice something. It always feels about the same inside, no matter what is happening outside. Cool in the summer. Comfortable in the winter. That is because the ground just below the surface holds a fairly steady temperature year-round.

In Iowa, that is right around 50 to 55 degrees. A geothermal system takes advantage of that. Instead of fighting freezing air or blazing sun, it uses the ground’s mild temperature as a base.

How Geothermal Heating Works (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: The Ground Loop

The system starts underground with a ground loop. Think of it as a tough set of buried pipes that never see the light of day. Inside those pipes is a simple liquid, usually water mixed with antifreeze, that moves in a closed circle. As it circulates, it picks up the steady warmth of the earth in winter or releases heat back in during summer.

Every property is different, so the loop can be installed in different ways. Big yard with room to dig? A horizontal loop might be the easiest fit. Smaller lot or tricky soil? Vertical loops drilled straight down can do the job. At Schaal Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, we look at your land and help decide what is best.

Step 2: The Heat Pump

Once the liquid has done its job underground, it heads back inside to the heat pump. That pump does not burn fuel to make heat. It uses a refrigeration cycle to pull heat from the liquid and concentrate it. Think of how your refrigerator moves heat out of the inside and into your kitchen. This is the same idea, just reversed to bring heat in for your home.

Step 3: Distribution and Comfort

After the pump boosts the heat, the warm air moves through your ducts just like a regular furnace would. Flip the system in the summer, and it works in reverse. The heat pump takes heat out of your home and carries it back down into the cooler earth. One system. Year-round comfort.

The Geothermal Advantage for Des Moines Homeowners

Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings

Here is where geothermal shines. Furnaces burn fuel or use resistance heating to generate warmth. Geothermal does not generate, it transfers. That is why it is so efficient. In fact, it can be 50 to 70 percent more efficient than a traditional furnace.

That kind of efficiency shows up in your monthly bills. For a family in Des Moines trying to keep up with an Iowa winter, that can mean cutting heating costs by a third or more. Over time, those savings really add up.

Environmental Impact

Geothermal is also one of the cleanest heating and cooling options you will find. It uses a small amount of electricity to run, but no fuel is burned in the process. That means fewer emissions and less reliance on fossil fuels. For homeowners who want to go green without giving up comfort, it is a solid choice.

Longevity and Reliability

These systems also last. The underground loop can keep working for half a century or more, and the heat pump indoors often runs 20 to 25 years. Compare that to the average furnace, which may only last 12-15 years before it is time for a replacement. Because most of the system is underground, it is protected from snow, ice, and summer storms. And with fewer moving parts, there is less that can break down.

Interested in Geothermal Heating for Your Des Moines Home?

Geothermal heating and cooling works by tapping into the earth’s steady temperature and putting it to work in your home. It is safe, efficient, long-lasting, and a great fit for Iowa weather.

At Schaal Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, we have been helping families in Des Moines for over 75 years. Our NATE-certified technicians know how to design, install, and maintain geothermal systems that work in real homes, with real Iowa soil and weather in mind.

If you are ready to see what geothermal could do for your home, give us a call today. We will walk your property, explain the options, and help you find out if this system is the right step toward comfort and savings.