When purchasing a new HVAC system for your home, it’s important to know both the advantages and disadvantages of each type of system. Geothermal heating, just like every other HVAC system on the market, has some downsides. Below, we’ll dive into more details about what these are so that you can make a better-informed decision if this system is right for your home.
How Does Geothermal Work?
Before we discuss the disadvantages of this system, it’s important first to understand how it works. Geothermal systems work by using a network of underground pipes that exchange heat with the earth. These lines are positioned below the frost line, where ground temperatures remain relatively stable throughout the year, ranging between 45 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
During the winter season, your geothermal system will extract heat from the ground thanks to a substance known as refrigerant that runs inside all the piping. Refrigerant gets pumped into your home and releases that heat to warm the inside. During the summertime, this process happens in reverse. Your system will use refrigerant to extract heat from inside your home and pump it back underground to disperse it into the soil. All geothermal systems rely on electricity to move heat rather than generate it by burning fuel.
High Upfront Cost
One of the biggest drawbacks to getting geothermal heating for a home is the higher upfront cost. It costs more because there’s a lot of installation involved in putting in your underground piping network. All of the lines have to be placed below the frost level, which is multiple feet below the surface. The specific price of installing your system will vary depending on the system size, your local conditions, and the type of loop that you’re using. However, most systems do cost tens of thousands of dollars to install initially.
Longer Payback Period
Geothermal systems can be highly energy efficient, which is great for reducing your heating and cooling costs throughout the year. However, the higher upfront cost results in a longer payback period. It’s estimated that these systems can reduce your annual heating and cooling costs between 30 and 70%.
Many homeowners find that it takes them numerous years to recoup their initial investment in the form of energy savings. In some cases, the payback period can range anywhere between 10 and 20 years, depending on various factors. While geothermal can be the right investment for homeowners who plan on staying in their home for a long time, it’s typically not the best option for short-term homeowners. If you plan on moving in the next decade, it’s likely you won’t recoup the upfront investment before you sell.
Intensive Installation Process
Another major disadvantage of getting a geothermal system is that it involves an invasive installation process. This can be highly disruptive to your property because you will be excavating your yard to bury the piping network. This can damage landscaping, patios, driveways, and more, all of which will require repairs once the installation process is complete. This adds additional cost and time to the overall installation process.
Not a One-Size-Fits-All Solution
It’s important to realize that geothermal heating is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s only suitable for certain types of properties that have the right geology, soil conditions, and space. If you live on a small lot, have very rocky soil, limited access for drilling equipment, or steep slopes, geothermal likely isn’t an option for you.
Homeowners with smaller properties can opt for using vertical loops over horizontal loops. However, these vertical loops are much more expensive and invasive to install. In some locations, bedrock depth and groundwater conditions can make even vertical loop installation difficult. The installation process does require local permitting, zoning regulations, and more.
Electricity Dependence
Geothermal systems rely on electricity to transfer heat in and out of your home. This means that anytime your local power grid goes down, your heating or cooling system will not function unless you have a backup energy source, like a generator or battery system. Furthermore, the overall operating cost of your system will be highly dependent on the electricity rates in your area. If they are extremely high, the cost savings you expect from the system’s efficiency could be significantly reduced.
Complex Service
Geothermal systems are very complex. While they do have low maintenance requirements, all systems will need repairs and maintenance at one point or another. You’ll need to have one of our trained specialists perform this service for you. Not all HVAC companies offer geothermal experts who can assist with repairing and maintaining your system.
Furthermore, if your system experiences any issues with the underground loop, it requires extensive repairs. This means excavating the site to access the section of the loop experiencing the problem. This can significantly increase labor costs and will require restoration of your property in that area.
What Are the Advantages?
Now that we’ve taken a deep dive into the disadvantages of a geothermal heating system, it’s important to also weigh the advantages it can provide. One of the most well-known advantages of geothermal systems is their exceptional energy efficiency. They can reach efficiency levels of anywhere between 300 and 500%.
This translates to producing three to five units of heat for every unit of electricity they consume. There’s simply no other HVAC system on the market today that can come close to this efficiency. With such a high operating efficiency, you can save a significant amount of money on your energy bills throughout the year.
It’s crucial to know that geothermal heating systems don’t burn fuel to create heat. Since they don’t use a combustion process, there are no exhaust fumes that need to be vented out of your home. This makes geothermal a much safer heating option that’s also environmentally friendly compared to traditional furnaces.
Because geothermal systems run at a low speed for long cycles, they’re able to maintain a more consistent indoor temperature. This greatly enhances indoor comfort, as you won’t have to deal with the uncomfortable temperature fluctuations that are common with most conventional heating systems.
Geothermal systems have one of the longest lifespans of all HVAC units. The underground loop system can last 50 years or more with proper care and installation. This is because it’s protected from physical damage, UV exposure, and weather conditions. The indoor heat pump components typically last around 20 to 25 years.
Is Geothermal Heating Right for Your Home?
Whether or not geothermal heating is right for your home depends on several factors. One of the first is understanding your property and whether it’s feasible to install the underground loop system. We recommend contacting us to schedule an initial consultation with one of our HVAC technicians to determine if geothermal heating is a viable option for you.
Professional Geothermal Installation Service
Cool Power LLC offers professional geothermal installation services for the Ronkonkoma, NY community. We can also assist with all your geothermal repair, maintenance, and replacement needs. Just call us today to schedule your initial installation consultation.
