Geothermal FAQ

Yes. It is a very quiet system, and with no outdoor unit there is no outside noise and no wear and tear from the weather.

Very similar to a conventional system. The normal range is 90 to 110°F.

Warm air (90 to 105°F) moves through your home in slightly higher volumes, so it fills rooms more evenly. That evens out hot and cold spots and eliminates the cold air blast common with fossil fuel furnaces.

Every house is different. A geothermal system does not change the need for one. It is about your comfort and your choice.

No. The equipment goes inside, usually in the basement, garage or crawl space. Being indoors greatly extends the life of the compressor and major components.

A standard filter, in various sizes and styles. New York Geothermal Supply stocks ClimateMaster filters and can ship them on a regular schedule.

Geothermal works on any size lot. The choice is mainly about cost. A horizontal loop is the most cost-effective but takes more yard. A vertical loop fits the smallest yard but adds drilling cost. The best way to decide is to have someone walk your property with you.

Horizontal closed loop: fused pipe buried about five feet deep. The most affordable option.

Vertical closed loop: pipe in boreholes 150 to 400 feet deep. Can add $3,000 to $4,000 per ton.

Pond loop: submerged in a pond or lake, with water depth requirements.

Open loop: well water used directly where groundwater allows. The least recommended loop in New York.

It depends on your land and water. New York water varies a lot, so a closed loop is preferred. A sealed, pressurized closed loop needs less maintenance, with no mineral or iron build-up. Try the loop finder, then talk with a trained designer.

Yes. Heat fusion is the only acceptable way to join closed-loop pipe. Any other method will eventually fail.

Typical payback for replacing a conventional system is around 4 to 5 years. In new construction payback starts on day one, because the added loan amount is less than the energy savings.

Example: save $700 a year with a $2,000 cost difference and payback is under 3 years. Conventional systems last 12 to 15 years; geothermal lasts 22 to 25 years.

It depends on where you live. Check with your electric utility, rural co-op, county and state, and ask us what currently applies to your project.

More than three times as efficient as the most efficient fossil fuel furnace. It moves heat that already exists instead of burning fuel, delivering three units of energy for every one it uses.

Yes. A desuperheater can save up to 50% on water heating by pre-heating tank water. Some models supply all your hot water on demand at the same high efficiency.

The heat pump averages a 24+ year life. The U.S. Department of Energy puts ground loop life at 25 to 50 years.

Heat pumps move heat by pumping water or refrigerant through pipes just below the surface, where the ground stays 50 to 60°F. They heat and cool homes and can even warm pools.

It cuts greenhouse gas emissions, lowers dependence on finite fossil fuels and keeps energy reliable for future generations.