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farberino t1_jdwumhq wrote

Reply to comment by dustinator in Geothermal HVAC Contractor Recommendations? by TheDonkinator

Yup. I got a quote from one of the larger HVAC providers when I was replacing mine (I can't remember which one), and they said that they hardly ever install them, particularly not on existing houses (where it's more costly to dig the well), in part because regular heat pumps have gotten so efficient that there isn't even that much energy savings for geothermal. I want to say it was going to be something completely insane like $70k including the well to replace one of my three heat pumps with geothermal.

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dustinator t1_jdwzfgj wrote

It’s been 14 years or so since I’ve laid a hand on one and even then they were pricey. I can’t imagine today

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TheDonkinator OP t1_jdx43uc wrote

Wow. Thanks for all this info. I wasn’t aware that modern heat pumps had become efficient enough to compete with geothermal operating costs.

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gracetw22 t1_jdxy0d7 wrote

I looked into it because I was willing to pay slightly more for a system since I’d worked on a farm with one that was THE BEST, and I was informed it would be around 50k more to install and maybe save me 20 bucks a month. I think it is best served in new construction with high needs and a lot of easily accessible space that’s already getting dug up

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TheDonkinator OP t1_jdy8dhk wrote

I was interested for the rumored efficiency and reduction in carbon footprint. I have enough yard for the wells, but would definitely have to take down/rebuild some fence to let the equipment through. If the 15-20 SEER heat pumps are now able to heat through a VA winter without needing the auxiliary heat, I think they’ll be a significant enough improvement from our 25 year old AC and gas boiler system that I’ll see the reduced install cost as a win.

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dustinator t1_jdx4n0d wrote

To the best of my knowledge it’s still not quite there but you’d be hard pressed to see a ROI on geothermal these days. Check out what Bosh has to offer. Their 20 SEER equipment is nuts

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Charlesinrichmond t1_jdxoi5z wrote

I've heard good things you like it?

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dustinator t1_jdxpdwy wrote

I saw 94° heat with no strips at the registers on a 12° morning after about 15 minutes run time. Wish I had put one in my house but I didn’t want to be a Guinea pig

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Charlesinrichmond t1_je0bq97 wrote

I did that with splits at a house this winter. Gree. But I've heard a lot of great things about the Bosch, and claims the error codes etc are great - like it gives you the high and low pressure.

I'm really intrigued. No strips inverter on the regular size heat pumps is clearly the future

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