GrimmHeatingCooling

Geothermal heating and air conditioning, contrary to popular belief, has been around for more than 35 years. It
was only until energy costs started soaring that it came to the forefront of the media and people looking at
lowering their utility bills.

What is a "geothermal" system? It takes advantage of the Earth's ability to store vast amounts of heat in
the soil ("geo" means earth and "thermal" refers to heat). This heat energy is maintained at a constant
temperature (50°F to 70°F depending on latitude) in the soil and near-surface rocks. In Illinois, the soil
maintains a 50°F temperature beginning approximately four feet down, well past the winter frost line.

Geothermal heating systems, also called ground-source heat pumps, "capture" this steady supply of heat
energy and "move" it from the Earth and through a home or building. Basically, once installed, a home or
building owner will use much less energy, save money each month, and reduce the amount of pollution
produced by fossil fuel systems.

How does this work? A heat pump is a mechanical device that transfers heat from one source to another.
Ground-source units pull heat from the earth and transfer it to homes or buildings. Heat pumps (despite their
name) can provide both heating and cooling. The cooling process is simply the reverse of the heating
process: heat is taken out of a building and returned to the Earth.

Typical ground-source heat pumps transfer heat using a network of tubes, called "closed loops." Basically, the
loops are filled with either water, refrigerant or an anti-freeze solution. They run through the ground in the
vicinity of a building and the liquid absorbs the Earth's heat energy. Then, this warmed liquid is pumped back
through the system into the building. This process provides heat to the building space. Once the fluid passes
through the building and transfers its energy, it flows through the loop system back to the Earth and the
process repeats itself.

In the summertime, these systems "reverse" into cooling mode. Technically, the system does not "run
backwards." Instead, a series of valves enables the system to switch the "hot" side and the "cold" side. The
heat from the building is transferred to the liquid in the loop and this liquid is pumped back into the ground.
When the ground source heat pump is in cooling mode, it usually has an excess of warmed liquid in the
system. This liquid can heat water for the building and basically eliminate the use of the hot
water heater during the summer months

Grimm Heating and Air Conditioning takes special pride in the invitation to work in your new home.
Whether it's a small service matter or the installation of a new system, Grimm's goes the extra mile to ensure
your satisfaction and comfort.

Some of our standard, no charge extras and values are spelled out in the Service Packages area, click on the
top navigation button labled Service Packages to see what we provide FREE with each installation! This
package of extras is what makes us the best value for your money, and it's part of every Grimm installation.
With this package supporting your investment, your family can be assured a safe, long lasting system for
years to come.

Our technicians are clean-cut, uniformed, and on call 24 hours a day to take care of your needs. Their
experience and abilities are unmatched, and their first priority is to service your system and needs, not just
change out parts or sell you new equipment.