Thus, little special training is required for installation. Existing ducting and air handlers can be used with minor modifications and the addition of the loop-side components. U.S. E.P.A. and D. O.E. have determined that ground source heat pumps have the lowest environmental impact of all systems. The refrigerant used by EarthLinked TM is not toxic. It is the same refrigerant currently in use by the majority of the HVAC industry.
Copper is one of the few metals that exists 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 go beyond safe levels, protective measures for the in-ground copper are available. Also, ECR's patented refrigerant flow controls assure the evaporator runs in a flooded condition, which provides further assurance of oil return. The compressor unit can be located in a basement, utility room or garage since it does not have an outside fan-coil component. In fact, in 1985 ECR produced the most energy efficient water heater ever tested at the Florida Solar Energy Center.