It really makes little difference whether you’re constructing a new home or improving your current home, the determination to install either a common HVAC system or geothermal heating and cooling can be a tough one. It’s rarely the case that Hattiesburg residents don’t understand the advantages of geothermal. What’s not to be thrilled with, after all, about a technology that heats and cools your home naturally without fossil fuels and combustion, that has only a handful of mechanical parts, that needs little maintenance, that can keep on functioning efficiently for 30 to 50 years or so, and that can cut energy bills by as much as 70 percent or more?
No, homeowners’ initial misgivings about going geothermal almost always entail 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 Most Advantageous Alternative.
- Fear of Meager Dealer Support and Service.
Let’s assess these fears one by one.
Fear of High Up-Front Costs. This isn’t totally baseless; geothermal’s up-front costs are high, particularly regarding the installation of ground loops. But given the life of a geothermal system – appreciably longer than the life of typical heating and cooling systems, that’s for sure! – opting for geothermal is an investment in long-term energy efficiency and comfortable living. You’d swap out a new boiler, for instance, at least once before you’d have to fix or replace any part of a geothermal system. Furthermore, with a conventional system, you’re paying for electricity from the grid or for oil to burn, and those costs are escalating all the time. Geothermal energy is renewable energy that saves you money in the short term and maximizes 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 have your system. The savings will kick in as soon as it’s online, too.
Fear That the Technology Remains “Unproven.” Beyond any doubt, modern geothermal technology has proven itself time and again in countless installations here in Hattiesburg, across the nation, and around the world since first introduced in the late 1940s. Circumstances such as the ever-growing 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, a smaller and smaller number of homeowners have qualms] about installing a geothermal system. They’re finding geothermal technology infinitely more efficient and trustworthy than conventional high-efficiency gas furnaces and whole-house air conditioners.
Fear That Geothermal Heating and Cooling May Not Be the Best Alternative. Financial considerations are definitely relevant here. You’d be best advised to compare renewable-energy technology with that using standard energy sources and appraise the comprehensive costs and ROI of each. If your home occupies enough land area to accommodate the ground loops, geothermal will no doubt present itself as the most viable alternative – for the reasons mentioned above.
Fear of Limited Dealer Support and Service. We can eliminate this fear right here and now. BC's Heating and Air is a highly regarded Hattiesburg geothermal dealer, installer, and service provider. We’ll work personally with you from the beginning, and we’ll be there to take care of your geothermal system’s every maintenance and service need for as long as you own it.
In the final analysis, the only thing you ought to fear is losing out on all the comfort, efficiency, energy-bill savings, and tranquility a geothermal heating and cooling system provides. Contact the geothermal experts at BC's Heating and Air today!