Whether you’re building a new home or updating your current residence, the choice to install either a common HVAC system or geothermal heating and cooling can be a hard one. It’s rarely the case that Lancaster homeowners don’t grasp the positive aspects of geothermal. What’s not to like, after all, about a system that heats and cools your home naturally without fossil fuels and combustion, that has only a handful of mechanical parts, that calls for little maintenance, that can keep on operating efficiently for 30 to 50 years or more, and that can lower energy bills by as much as 70 percent or more?
No, homeowners’ initial objections to going geothermal typically entail these five fears:
- Fear of High Up-Front Costs.
- Fear of “Too Little Too Late” Return on Investment.
- Fear That the Technology Is Still “Unproven.”
- Fear That Geothermal Heating and Cooling May Not Be the Most Advantageous Alternative.
- Fear of Meager Dealer Support and Service.
Let’s review these fears one by one.
Fear of High Up-Front Costs. This isn’t entirely baseless; geothermal’s up-front costs are high, especially regarding the installation of ground loops. But given the life of a geothermal system – far longer than the life of typical heating and cooling systems, make no mistake! – choosing geothermal is an investment in long-term energy efficiency and comfortable living. You’d replace a new boiler, for example, at least once before you’d have to fix or replace any part of a geothermal system. On top of that, with a conventional system, you’re paying for electricity from the grid or for oil to burn, and those prices are mounting all the time. Geothermal energy is renewable energy that saves you money in the short term and elevates the resale value of your home in the long term.
Fear of “Too Little Too Late” Return on Investment. The return on investment in most geothermal systems is at least 10 percent. What this means is that, for every dollar you invest, you’ll save 10 percent each year for as long as you have your system. The savings will begin as soon as it’s operational, too.
Fear That the Technology Remains “Unproven.” Beyond any doubt, modern geothermal technology has proven itself many times over in a multitude of installations here in Lancaster, across the continent, and around the globe since first introduced in the late 1940s. Influences such as the rising demand for renewable energy and efficient, cost-effective space-conditioning systems have contributed to making the geothermal industry one of the fastest-growing in the 21st century. Obviously, shrinking numbers of homeowners have qualms] about installing a geothermal system. They’re realizing that geothermal technology is infinitely more efficient and reliable than old-fashioned high-efficiency gas furnaces and whole-house air conditioners.
Fear That Geothermal Heating and Cooling May Not Be the Right Alternative. Financial considerations do indeed come into play here. You’d be well advised to compare renewable-energy technology with that using conventional energy sources and appraise the comprehensive costs and ROI of each. Should your home occupy enough land area to accommodate the ground loops, geothermal will likely emerge as the best alternative – for the reasons given above.
Fear of Meager Dealer Support and Service. We can dispense with this fear right here and now. Gochnauer at Home is a trusted Lancaster geothermal dealer, installer, and service provider. We’ll work hand in hand with you from the get-go, and we’ll be there to cover your geothermal system’s every maintenance and service demand for as long as you own it.
In the end, the only thing you should really fear is missing out on all the comfort, efficiency, energy-bill savings, and tranquility a geothermal heating and cooling system provides. Contact the geothermal experts at Gochnauer at Home today!