It really makes little difference whether you’re raising a new home or upgrading your present residence, the determination to install either a standard HVAC system or geothermal heating and cooling can be a hard one. It’s hardly ever the case that Columbus people don’t grasp the advantages 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 few mechanical parts, that requires little maintenance, that can keep on performing efficiently for 30 to 50 years or better, and that can reduce energy bills by as much as 70 percent or more?
No, homeowners’ initial doubts about going geothermal often involve these five fears:
- Fear of High Up-Front Costs.
- Fear of “Too Little Too Late” Return on Investment.
- Fear That the Technology Is As Yet “Unproven.”
- Fear That Geothermal Heating and Cooling May Not Be the Best Alternative.
- Fear of Insufficient Dealer Support and Service.
Let’s assess these fears one at a time.
Fear of High Up-Front Costs. This isn’t entirely without basis; geothermal’s up-front costs are high, especially where the installation of ground loops is concerned. But given the life of a geothermal system – far longer than the life of conventional 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 instance, at least once before you’d have to repair or replace any component of a geothermal system. In addition, with an ordinary system, you’re paying for electricity from the grid or for oil to burn, and those prices are shooting upwards 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 yearly for as long as you keep your system. The savings will start as soon as it’s operational, too.
Fear That the Technology Remains “Unproven.” The truth is, modern geothermal technology has proven itself time and again in various installations here in Columbus, across the nation, and around the globe since first introduced in the late 1940s. Circumstances such as the increased 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. Certainly, shrinking numbers of homeowners have qualms] about installing a geothermal system. They’re finding geothermal technology far more efficient and reliable than run-of-the-mill high-efficiency gas furnaces and whole-house air conditioners.
Fear That Geothermal Heating and Cooling May Not Be the Proper Alternative. Financial considerations are definitely of consequence here. You’d be well advised to compare renewable-energy technology with that using traditional energy sources and appraise the final costs and ROI of each. Provided your home occupies enough land area to accommodate the ground loops, geothermal will undoubtedly emerge as the best alternative – for the reasons mentioned above.
Fear of Meager Dealer Support and Service. We can quell this fear right here and now. Patriot Air Comfort Systems is a respected Columbus geothermal dealer, installer, and service provider. We’ll work hand in hand with you from the get-go, and we’ll be there to address your geothermal system’s every maintenance and service requirement for as long as you own it.
In the final analysis, the only thing you ought to fear is missing out on all the comfort, efficiency, energy-bill savings, and peace of mind a geothermal heating and cooling system provides. Contact the geothermal experts at Patriot Air Comfort Systems today!