A small-scale geothermal heat pump system—often installed to serve a single household—consists of a network of heat-transferring pipes buried four to six feet underground and connecting to an electric-powered pump which concentrates and distributes the heat. Because the earth at the four-to-six feet of depth is roughly 55 degrees Fahrenheit in both summer and winter, geothermal systems can regulate the temperature in your home all year round. In the summer, geothermal heat pumps can also help heat your water.