Geothermal Cooling Systems? (Houston: credit, how much, home)

[pmiranda]

Anyone ever gotten an estimate for a ground-loop heat pump? Especially the vertical installation since I don't have alot of yard space to dig up for a horizontal loop. There are lots of web sites that give generic estimates but they're mainly geared to get your contact info and make a sale... it'd be nice to hear a real-world estimate.

With electric rates going up this year, I think we're due to replace our 13-year-old AC units and my understanding is that geothermal is the most efficient system around. I just don't know how much more it will cost for the equipment and to drill the loops.
(To say nothing of repairing what's left of the sprinkler system after they're done.)

[emileNOLA]

I would budget an additinal 15-25% above a traditional ac system with condensers

[Hemlock140]

A neighbor had one installed a couple of years ago, purchased from company in Houston.
In fact he got into trouble because he hadn't gotten a city permit and when he tried they didn't have any idea what to inspect on it. He paid $20,000 for it plus installation at about another $10,000, for heating and cooling on 2,700 sf house.

[verybadgnome]

I couldn't find much info either. I did hear that many AISD schools use geothermal HVAC.

[mayfair44]

Upfront cost much higher vs conventional HVAC. Sounds like vertical costs more than horizontal, and the deeper the costlier.

30% NO LIMIT federal tax credit, good through 2016, for the total cost to put one in, and still, not hearing stories of everyone switching to it:

Selected Topic

CD 'geothermal' title search; you're not the only one out there interested:

//www.city-data.com/forum/searc...archid=2259272

[ccornewell]

Someone is coming out to estimate our home this month. I'll try and remember to let you know what they say. I talked to someone yesterday and to drill vertical on our property in downtown Indy with the system would be around 16k with a 3k rebate on our taxes. We're in the beginning stages of a full gut remodel on a 1921 craftsman cottage and I plan on spraying foam in the walls and attic using the diy kits available so we don't have to live without walls while we deal with every issue before spraying foam. most of the work will be done by us to save on labor. The only things I don't plan on doing are the siding, heating, doors and windows.

[johnrex62]

I am in the process of getting quotes from 4 companies for a geothermal system at my place.

My 14yr old Trane system gave up the ghost and requires a new compressor. I figure if the compressor has died, the rest of the system is probably not too many years behind.

Two of the reps have given me a "ballpark" figure pending their detailed quote. I have a 2450 sq foot house, existing system was 3.5 ton single zone. The ballparks range from $25K to $34K. After the 30% tax credit this puts the systems in the $17K-$24K range. The ballpark for a traditional Trane system was $9K-$10K.

My water heater is propane and is estimated to cost $690 per year. If the typical life expectency for a conventional HVAC is about 15 years, that would be approximately $10,350 over the life of the system for hot water expense. It seems reasonable that much of this cost would be eliminated via the geothermal system.

Subtracting $10K from the geo system cost would give an approximate apples to apples cost comparison between the conventional and geothermal systems after hot water generation.

Conventional $9-10K Hot water $10,350 total $19,350-$20,350 Avg yrly cost $1290 - $1356 (15yr hardware life)
Geothermal $17K-24K Hot water ~350* total $17,250-$24,250 Avg yrly cost $694- $974 (25yr hardware life)

I know there will some hot water expense during minimal system use periods, but externally produced hot water should be minimal.

The geo system could be $2k cheaper up to $4k more expensive, but will have a much longer than 15yr life expectency than the conventional; 25 yrs for internal systems and 50 yrs for groundloops. That combined with the expected lower operational costs of the geothermal systems it seems to be a no brainer. Am I missing something obvious?