Annual Service and Maintenance Cost of Geothermal Heat Pumps, More or Less?
While geothermal installation cost may be a bit more than you expected, geothermal heat pumps cost considerably less to maintain over the life of the unit. That’s just one of the tradeoffs that makes them a very attractive option for homeowners looking for a long-term heating and cooling solution.
In this Geothermal Heat Pump Guide, we’ll look at what it takes to service a high-efficiency Geothermal heat pump system, and discuss the annual maintenance of a geothermal heat pump system. Listed below are the primary reasons that geothermal heat pump systems cost less to maintain through the years. You can also read a full rundown of the pros and cons of Geothermal for more info.
1. Operating costs are lower: In a typical year, you’ll spend 30%-60% less on energy with a geothermal heat pump than with an air source heat pump or conventional split system, making the cost of Geothermal versus others quite a good case to own one!
2. The Equipment is less complex: Giving the energy savings that ground source heat pumps produce, you might be surprised that they are not as complex as air source heat pumps. To begin with, they are not split systems. All of the components are housed together, usually inside the home. There are fewer moving parts and less equipment that has to be serviced and maintained. They operate very simply and efficiently, and aside from the cost of installation, are very basic mechanical units.
3. Geothermal heat pumps have a better service record: It’s important to maintain your geothermal heat pump yearly, the same as you would do with an air source heat pump. However, they take less time to service, reducing your annual costs for maintenance. They break down less frequently than other HVAC systems, and aside from very few disadvantages of Geothermal, they have a much better maintenance record.
4. Geothermal units last longer: Air source heat pumps are usually backed by a 10-year warranty and they last an average of 15-17 years. Geothermal heat pumps are often covered by a longer warranty so your risk of paying for parts is reduced. Secondly, the components have a lifespan of 25+ years in most cases. You won’t be replacing the unit nearly as quickly as you will with an air source unit. The underground loops in a geothermal system are typically covered by a warranty of up to 50 years. According to the Consumer Energy Center, owners of Geothermal systems have the highest satisfaction rating among all other types of hvac technology!
The one exception to the rule that geothermal heat pumps cost less to maintain occurs when an underground loop breaks. This rarely happens – and in most cases the loop has a 50-year warranty. Locating and fixing the break can be costly
Beyond the higher initial expense of installing a geothermal heat pump, they have a track record for lower maintenance and service costs than air source heat pumps. This is just another reason why geothermal systems are growing in popularity every year.
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