does this geothermal quote sound reasonable?

15 years ago

Hello,

Would really appreciate your feedback on this quote: sounds reasonable?

I am in Mass.

Total = $37,845.

INSTALL GEOTHERMAL CENTRAL HEATING, COOLING AND HOT WATER FOR APRX. 2200sqft OF LIVING SPACE - APRX. 6 TONS, UP TO 2 ZONES = 18,650.00

DUCTWORK INSTALLATION = 6,250.00

(doesn't this seem high for installing ductwork for a small 2-story house?)

2) 50 GAL GEO-WATER HEATERS = 2,550.00

(what are these: heat pumps? how is that different from a ?geothermal system?)

DESIGN AND GROUND LOOP INSTALLATION - TRENCHING - (horizontal loops requires a minimum of 150' x 70' of open land) = 8,500.00

PURGING - SYSTEM START UP & PLUMBING INSPECTION = 1,895.00

(what is this purging?).

We're also thinking of setting up solar panels. A guess quote = $22K.

We don't have any plans to move.

Does it seem like a smart financial/environmental move to spend ~$60K to heat/cool a 2200sqft 32 years old Colonial?

We spent ~$3K this past year for heating/window A/Cs.

Our bet is that it'll cost $5500 this year, and continuing to increase. Breakeven in about 11 years.

thanks for all/any feedback,

Amanda

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Comments (3)

fsq4cw
15 years ago
It sounds a bit steep for a 2200sq ft house but not necessarily so for a 6-ton zoned system. What I question most is the need for a 6-ton system. Has a Manual J heat gain/loss calc been done on your home?

After spending the money on geo I personally would find it hard to spend another $22k on solar, but thatÂs just me (IÂd gladly spend it on a masonry heater though!). I would suggest getting more geo quotes.

SR

Here is a link that might be useful: IGSHPA, International Ground Source Heat Pump Association at Oklahoma State University
sniffdog
15 years ago
Amanda

It's hard to say if the quote is reasonable without more info. Do you already have duct work installed for a forced air system? if not, then $6250 might be an OK price. What kind of HVAC system do you have right now?

The cost for the trenching seems about right but what kind of land do you have and what is the typical soil? If it is flat land and not rocky then 8 grand sounds about right. If it's rocky soil - big boulders - 8 grand might be too low. I spent about 17 grand to have my pit dug (mountain + big rocks = big money)

The purging costs is the effort required to fill up the loop and bleed out all the air in the line. They need special equipment for that and it is an all day process for me.

As far as a 6 ton system, I have a 6 ton and two 3 ton heat pumps. The 6 ton heat pump is sized to handle 4400 sq feet (2200 on the main level and 2200 in the basement). Seems a bit high for you but there are many factors.

You might want to get a few more quotes. I also suggest doing this - have the HVAC people give you a quote for a High Efficiency system (propane or NG heat + electric AC) and also provide in this quote the delta cost to go from that to a geothermal system. This is what we did - so we could see exaclty how much more it would cost for choosing the GT solution. For my 12 ton GT system (new home) it was only 15K more for the GT system over a HE heat pump solution (not including the loop field excavation whcih was another 17K for me - it sucks building on a mountain!)
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richardlee
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Sounds like a rip off to me. I had a system installed here in Illinois for a 1900 sq. ft. home for 17,000 plus change. It isn't zoned,but that wouldn't have been a great cost. There are units all around me much larger than yours with other home owners and I guarantee you they didn't cost near that. May I suggest to you if you haven't already,SHOP AROUND. It also sounds like to me that you are over sized. 6 ton is a hell of a unit for 2200 sq.feet. The rule of thumb around here is 1 ton per 1000 sq. feet. You are most definetly being ripped off in regards to the water heaters.

does this geothermal quote sound reasonable?

Comments (3)

fsq4cw

sniffdog

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