“Well, you could have a geothermal heat pump, but…”
…You Need a Bunch of Land
As one old timer put it, “If you have a lawn mower, then I can put in a geo
unit.” With numerous options for the underground loop systems, that’s
actually true. A vertical loop is often installed under driveways or even 10’
x 10’ patches of ground. There are many other options including using an
existing water well, a pond, or if in fact you have more than ½ an acre, a long
horizontal ditch is a great solution. If you Google “ground heat exchanger
options” you will find a variety of solutions that might work for you.
…Electric Heat Costs a lot
Some geo systems are installed with electric strip heat for extreme cold
weather. And yes, that can add to your electric bill. However, modern
systems are designed to operate without backup heat down to extremely
low temperatures. And if your underground system (the “loop”) is sized right,
no backup heat is needed at all.
…It Isn’t Safe
Since geothermal heat pumps are 100% electrical, there is no combustion
of gas or oil in the home for heating. So, there’s no chance of smelly fumes,
explosions, or carbon monoxide poisoning. Because heat pumps are
certified by independent laboratories, they include safety cutoff switches for
every circuit in the system.
…It’s Too Expensive to Install
Installing geothermal heating and cooling for your home or building is
an investment, no doubt about it. Geo system owners quickly realize their
systems are saving so much money they are recouping their investments in
5-7 years. With the 30% tax credit and other incentives geo can even cost
less than a new boiler or HVAC system to install. When you consider the
loop will outlive anyone alive today and the heat pump will deliver twice
the useful life of most alternatives, that makes for a much more attractive
investment.
