Podcast episode (host Derek Cole) replaying a 2015 interview with Steve Cole about geothermal (water-source) heat pumps. Main points: open-loop wells (≈85–100 ft) tap relatively stable water temperatures (≈56–60°F in the Carolinas), enabling higher capacity and efficiency than air-source heat pumps (example: 3-ton unit may deliver ≈3.5 tons using ~60°F water). Discusses EER (fixed 85°F test condition) versus SEER, comparative ratings (14 SEER ≈ 10 EER; top geothermal cited at 54 EER), true variable-speed operation (multi-stage control up to 12 stages) and improved dehumidification. Includes host CTAs to share, rate, and visit simmons1hour.com.
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Foreign. I'm Derek Cole, host of the Derek Cole Podcast, and we believe in taking the time to explain how things work for your air at home or your business. Let's get into today's episode. Please listen closely and maybe even take some notes so you can remember these insights of home comfort and energy savings. And share this episode with three of your friends because we all need to share better ways to be more comfortable at home. Be sure to tag me or DM me on Instagram Derek Mcole so I can say hi. Thanks again for listening and let's begin. Foreign. Welcome to the podcast and today's episode. I'm going back in time, back to 2015 when I interviewed a very special guest, my father, Steve Cole, and we talk about geothermal heat pumps. We've run into a few these last few months and I thought it was good to bring this one back from the archives in 2015 when we sat down and talked just a few minutes about geothermal heat pumps, what they are and how they can save you energy. So check it out. I hope you enjoy it. Let me know. Let's go back to 2015. Hey, this is Derrick Cole with One Hour Heating Air. And today we have with us Steve Cole and he is the expert on geothermal heat pumps. Now today we're talking all about energy. So the most energy efficient way to heat and cool your home is by geothermal, correct?
Correct.
So geothermal is kind of misunderstood out there a little bit and we get a lot of questions on it. So kind of go into what Geothermal.
For the standard heat pump, you have an outdoor unit for a reason. The unit is outside so it can use the outdoor ambient temperature. So when you're trying to cool your house, you're extracting heat out of your house and rejecting it to the outdoor air. So when you hear the word three ton unit, that three tons mean three ton at 95 degree outdoor temp.
Right.
So when that temperature is above 95 degrees, you don't have three ton capacity anymore. And then on the heating side, you know, you're trying to absorb heat from the outside, so the colder it is outdoors, the less heat you get. So with a conventional system, the more you need it, the less you have.
So what is different about geothermal compared to that?
Geothermal we're using the earth's temperature. In this area of the Carolinas, we have a lot of open loop systems. The earth's temperature is between 56 and 60 degrees. Between 85 and 100 foot, we use a 85 to 100 foot deep well and at water temp on the hottest day of the year, we're cooling our house using 60 degree water. On the coldest day of the year, we're heating your house using 56 degree water. Tremendous amount of difference in temperature.
So on a 95 degree day, which is very common around here. So now we're trying to cool a.
Home with 50, you're looking at 59, 60 degree water. That 3 ton geothermal unit because we have great temperatures in this area, United States is actually giving you right at three and a half tons capacity.
Amazing. So that's how you're saving so much energy on it. Now when we rate systems for a conventional heat pump we talk about sear rating. So geothermal goes on something different called eer. Now what exactly is it?
Yeah, even a unit with a sear rating has an EER rating. EER is a commercial rating. That's what engineers want to see. It's done at a set temperature of 85 degrees. The testing so nobody can play with the numbers. So an EER rating is very accurate. A 14 SEER unit is going to be somewhere around 10 EER. Our top of the line geothermal unit is at 54 EER and that's like miles per gallon. And another big thing with the geothermal technology today we have true variable speed. 95% of people in the United States have a single speed unit. Can you imagine your automobile having just one button you push to go? You couldn't control how fast your engine's going. Well, you have an accelerator you can accelerate. The same with your geothermal heat pump. It has 12 stages of heat and up to 12 stages of cooling. Tremendous amount of control and dehumidification.
Foreign. Okay. I hope you enjoyed this episode of the Derek Cole podcast. Tell some people about this episode. It's on each of us really to spread the better ways to to be healthier and more comfortable in our homes and workspace basis. I'm asking you to be the dealer of positive and life changing messages in your circle of influence. Take a screenshot right now and share the screenshot and the link to this episode with three of your friends today. Share on social media Use the hashtag Healthy home. That's healthy home. We are always giving away shout outs prizes to our community. If you would like to help me personally then please rate and review on Apple podcast. Give it some stars. Leave a review because that stuff actually does help and I read all the comments. So my last thought for today, please remember you deserve better air at home. And greater comfort at home. Don't settle for being uncomfortable for your heating air every single month. We are so thankful for having you here in our community and be sure to go deeper with us at simmons1hour.com.
