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CostHelper.com > Home & Garden > Geothermal Heat Pump
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Geothermal Heat Pump Cost |
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How Much Does a Geothermal Heat Pump Cost? |
 | Medium: Geothermal Heat Pumps Can Run $10,000-$25,000 Installed |
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| Also called ground-source or geo-exchange, a geothermal heat pump is an electrically powered heating and cooling system that transfers heat between your home and the earth by circulating fluid through long loops of underground pipe. This works because temperatures just below the ground surface are relatively constant all year round. Heat pumps do not generate heat, they move it around. Heat pumps work best in relatively mild climates, where the temperatures do not often drop below freezing. Geothermal heat pumps are one of the most energy-efficient methods of heating, but have high initial costs. | | |
| Typical costs: | - The cost of a geothermal (ground-source or water-source) heat pump can run $3,500 -$7,500, and the more expensive models may include options such as a two-stage compressor or a hot water heater. Excavation and installation costs can bump total costs up to $10,000 -$25,000 or more, depending on depth of pipes, type of equipment and soil conditions.
What should be included: | - Generally the entire geothermal heat pump and all mechanical components are located in an indoor unit (somewhat similar in appearance to an air conditioning unit). Typically a geothermal heat pump is inexpensive to operate and has no noisy outdoor equipment. The US Department of Energy provides a general overview of how geothermal heat pumps work, as well as illustrating the various types of geothermal heat pumps.
- Installing a geothermal system usually involves digging holes 150 to 250 feet deep. Pipes can be buried in soil, installed under a water source (such as a lake) or bored inside a rock shelf. An average installation takes 1-3 days, but this varies considerably depending on the length and depth of the pipes, soil conditions and the type of equipment required. Generally, installing a geothermal heat pump requires professional training and is not encouraged as a do-it-yourself project, since poor installation techniques can hurt the system's efficiency. House-Energy.com provides a quick installation overview.
- Terms such as "ground-source" or "geothermal" are often used interchangeably, but some folks argue that true geothermal systems take heat directly from natural sources (hot springs, geysers, volcanic hot spots) and are generally used for larger commercial or industrial sites, while ground-source heat pumps are reversible air conditioners that use groundwater or the soil to cool and heat a home or other building.
Discounts: | - Utility companies and other agencies may pay a rebate on an energy-efficient ground-source heat pump; check with your local power company or search for rebates listed at EnergyStar.gov.
- Energy Star-rated ground-source heat pumps may qualify for a federal tax credit.
Shopping for a geothermal heat pump: | - Major manufacturers include Water Furnace and FHP. The US Department of Energy provides guidelines for selecting and installing a geothermal heat pump system. Referrals for both manufacturers and contractors are available from GeoExchange.org.
- Get several estimates, making clear what is (and isn't) include in each quote. Request and check references; ask about the contractor's length and type of experience; and be sure the company is properly bonded, insured and licensed in your state. Check whether there are any complaints with the Better Business Bureau.
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Article updated February 2009 |
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
| BAD GEOTHERMAL UNIT |
| Amount: $14,000.00 |
| Posted by: KEITH LEHMKUHL in HOUSE SPRINGS, MO. | Posted: July 10th, 2009 04:07PM |
| Brand: CLIMATEMASTER | Model: VT036 GSSSRTDDSH |
| Installer: WEST COUNTY HEATING AND COOLING |
| IN 2002 I HAD A 3 TON CLIMATEMASTER GEO SYSTEM INSTALLED IN MY NEWLY BUILT HOME. EVERY YEAR THE SYSTEM WOULD LOCK UP IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. EVERYTIME THE INSTALLER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THE WELL TEMP. WOULD ALWAYS REACH EXTREM TEMP. IN SUMMER AND WINTER. THE SYSTEM WOULD RUN LONG AND LOUD. WAS LIKE NOISE POLLUTION IN MY HOUSE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. FINALLY QUIT CALLING A REPAIR MAN. IT WAS COSTING TO MUCH TO MISS WORK AND PAY FOR SERVICE CALLS. JUST MADE DUE WITH A BAD UNIT,BY HEATING ONLY HALF THE HOUSE AND KEPT THE WINTER T-STAT SET AT 65 DEG. now 7 years later have had my hot water circulating pump quit working (out of pocket $500.00) and most recent a compressor quit working estimated cost of repair $3900.00 plus my missed work pay. (WOULD NOT RECOMMEND CLIMATEMASTER GEOTHERMAL UNITS) THEY ALSO OVER CHARGE FOR REPLACEMENT PART WHEN THE FAIL. |
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| geo thermal system |
| Amount: $12,000.00 |
| Posted by: JERIMAH in MINOT, ND. | Posted: February 2nd, 2011 01:02AM |
| Brand: econar | Model: geo source 2000tm |
| Installer: NORTHERN PLAINS |
| SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED IN 2002.i HAVE JUST STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH IT.IN JULY THE REPAIR MAN CAME OUT AND SAID HE REPAIRED A PIN HOLE IN THE DISCHARGE LINE THAT THE UNIT WAS EMPTY 400.00.ON JAN 26 6 MONTHS LATER WE HAD THE REPAIR MAN OUT AGAIN.FOUND GEOTHERMAL UNIT EMPTY AND A PINHOLE LEAK ON DISCHRGE LINE.506.02. IM BEGINING TO BELIEVE THAT ALONG WIITH THE HIGH COST OFF INSTALLING THIS KIND OF SYSTEM AND THE COST OF REPAIRS.IT WOULD BE LESS EXPENSIVE TO GO WITH A CONVENTIONAL SYSTEM.IF I CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE HIGH REPAIR COSTS I WILL SWITCH OVER.IT IS FEB 1 AND MY SYSTEM HAS NOT SHUT OF FOR 3 DAYS .IT IS VERY COLD OUT .JUST DONT REMEMBER MY SYSTEM RUNNING THIS MUCH.I RECOMENED TO PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST OF REPAIRS AND INITAL COST TO STAY WITH THE CONVENTIONAL SYSTEMS.AT THIS RATE BY IT COULD COST ME 1500.A YEAR IN REPAIR BILLS.GR ND |
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| water source geothermal |
| Amount: $15,000.00 |
| Posted by: Colin Ritter in Berrien Springs, MI. | Posted: March 9th, 2011 03:03PM |
| Brand: WaterFurnace | Model: Premier AT |
| Installer: Water Furnace michiana |
I had this unit installed almost twenty years ago and I loved it. I have had a couple of repairs done but the warranty that came with the unit covered them. I have a 2500 sq.foot two story house in Michigan right where Lake effect storms can wreck havoc on our winter weather. my highest electric bill is around $100 all year round and I have no gas service in the house.
Now that Water Furnace is offering a buy back program on old equiptment whether that made it or not, I am defenitly changing out my unit for the new and improved version. Also with the government rebate incentive of 30% off the cost of replacement, my bill will be almost the same as installing a high effeciency furnace and air. |
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| Ground Source 4 ton Tetco Heat Pump furnace installed in 1994 |
| Amount: $12,000.00 |
| Posted by: Ralf Armstrong in International Falls, MN. | Posted: March 24th, 2011 11:03AM |
| Brand: Tetco | Model: 4 Ton Unit |
| Installer: N/A |
| New Construction(1994)2100 sq. foot bungalow on a 4 foot insulated(R22) crawl space. Also, R22 insulation in main floor walls and R60 in attic. Started the system in January 1994. It wouldn't heat the house above 65 with 1800 feet of lines installed 5 feet below ground. Was told it was because we installed the ground loops late in the year and ground had not settled yet. Also had an HRV hooked up to the cold air return to supply preheated fresh air to the house. HRV did make the unit work harder, but hey, you need fresh air in your house and an HRV also filters air and controls humidity. Furnace makers and designers should know that. Furnace compressor was noisy and gave us headaches. Switching valve had to be replaced the first year. Second year the fan motor had to be changed and I had to do it myself. I installed a good quality universal blower motor. Third year the compressor died and I had to pay my installer to install a higher quality compressor. The furnace ran well for 10 years after that. Heating was ok, but we still used a wood stove to take the chill out of the house in mid winter. Was told I should have had 1 foot of closed ground loop lines for every 1 sq.ft. of floor space. Too bad the installer wasn't told that by Tetco before he did my job. It was better for A/C than for heat. All in all, the cost was too high and the life expectancy of the unit is not long enough. By the time you pay for your investment and are ready to enjoy your energy saving you will have to do major replacements. Our Next home was a slab foundation with radiant heat "electric boiler" instead of a geothermal forced air system. I also put in a propane gas furnace for backup which includes the A/C forced air and duct work. HRV installed as well. Geothermal is way too much money and the life of the system is 15 years vs. 45 years for a good quality electric boiler. PEX tubing for radiant heat has a life expectancy of 100 to 600 years according to some scientists. |
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| Geothermal |
| Amount: $14,000.00 |
| Posted by: P. Dougherty in Muncy, PA. | Posted: April 8th, 2011 07:04PM |
| Brand: Water furnace, | Model: |
| This unit has been in for three winters in central PA. It has work very well. Our electric bills are much lower by about 75% than with fossil fuel. We heat and cool about 3000 sq. ft. using three 150' well loops. We will be building a new second home & will have a well system like we currently have. |
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| Geothermal |
| Amount: $14,000.00 |
| Posted by: P. Dougherty in Muncy, PA. | Posted: April 10th, 2011 05:04AM |
| Brand: Water furnace, | Model: |
| This unit has been in for three winters in central PA. It has work very well. Our electric bills are much lower by about 75% than with fossil fuel. We heat and cool about 3000 sq. ft. using three 150' well loops. We will be building a new second home & will have a well system like we currently have. |
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