It boggles my mind that people think 10 years is a long time. After installation, you pay each month (including financing) about what you were already paying anyway (probably less). You do it for 10 years, (especially with all the new government incentives, rebates, and low-interest financing now available) and after 10 years you're paying a ridiculously paltry amount for heat. Of course it makes sense. Think of the payback over 20 years once that loan is paid off! Even if you only end up paying even 1/2 of the normal cost over that period (including the cost of your system and electric), you're still saving substantially. I know not everyone lives in a home for that long, but seeing low energy bills does increase home values. I've seen homes sold almost immediately with their main advertising point being their geothermal system even in our horrible present climate while others still linger on the market. Not only that, but why not decrease your monthly bills slightly (before the loan is paid off)? Slightly lower bills, a higher sales price which will pay off the rest of that loan - still makes sense. We had someone come out to our house and they specifically calculated everything from current estimated heating costs, heating/cooling with geo, then savings/payback period. This was a full service option, including thermostats, etc. Finding that should not be difficult. One argument I saw above made no sense. If it really is worth insulating your home to use a normal system, it is a no-brainer to insulate your home using geo. Whether you decide to use geo or not, you can't say, "Well, normal is better, because we insulated, too." That makes no sense. Insulate either way. Then compare. The financial analysis does not make much sense, either. Yes, it would be wonderful if we could just stop paying the oil company, live without heat, and invest that money! Realistically, while you could want to put away the whole $25,000, you really are still using it for heat either way over those 14 years as projected. Geo, with the loan, electric, etc, will cost about the same each month as heat before the loan is paid off, so you can't just pretend that money could be invested elsewhere. Use it upfront with geo, use it over several years with oil, it makes no difference. That money is being spent on heat. Should it be spent on something worthwhile, or just, at the end of 10 years, have you still spending the same amount on more heat with oil? Geo will typically initially cost you a little less (including the loan and electricity) per month than you would be paying otherwise, then suddenly drop dramatically to only the cost of using the system as soon as that loan is paid off. That's money you would have spent anyway each month with your normal system (even though some of it went to financing, it is still less that what you would have paid for oil). Then suddenly, once the loan is gone, you actually DO have perhaps $1,000 a year in money saved that you can invest if you wish over 10 years. If, with financing costs, it does cost more per month than your normal heating system, that's one thing; but if not, the argument that it is wasting money is not valid. You're spending it anyway. Might as well spend it on something that will, in the future, save you tons of money. (Not just a little, a lot.)

I have the choice of elec or propaine. I have lived in an all elec place before. It was a change from propaine heat but still kept the place warm. I use a wood stove once it starts getting into the 40's here at night. Since it warms the place so well and reduces the amount of elec needed to heat the place. I am trying to find a cheaper source of elec heat than the space heaters I am currently using as the main heat source. bus drver - I was not asking for anyone to do the research. I was just wondering if anyone had an idea or rough estimate on how many I might need or away to figure how many I might need. I know no one is going to come put the system in for me unless I pay them. I was asking for advice only. I do know how to use a drill and how to hook up elec. wiring. We ran the current elec system in here ourselves since the wire that was here was still back from when elec first came to this area. We are thinking the house was built in about the 30's.

@tigerdunes thanks Above you suggest Trane XV18 TAM8 air; I like alot about XV18; however ... In other threads, you've cautioned against XV18 as newer mdl little hist; & also: "I prefer Trane heat pumps over Carrier primarily due to electronic demand defrost, a feature Carrier/Bryant does not have." "If you plan on zoning areas of your home off one system, I still believe Carrier/Bryant offers the best integrated zoning system and components under one umbrella." I'm a bit confused. 3 zones 830SF upstairs; main floor 1430/900 air handler will certainly be variable speed, but what about HP? It seems like a VS HP is what you suggest, and definitely like the quiet db ratings, but should I look at comparable Carrier/Bryant vs HP which I believe have better efficiency specs? High desert Oregon heating degree days 6926 cooling 151 base 65. Very large 35 degree dinaural temp change during summer so will have opportunity to really cool things down overnight. Very little humidity.

It sounds like poorly engineered baseboards or damage over the years and might be fixed. As the copper tube inside the aluminum fins heat and cool the pipe will expand and contract 1/100th to 2/100th of an inch per foot. The fins should of been designed to move with the copper and there could be some problem restricting the movement of the fins. Pull off the covers and inspect for anything coming in contact with the fins. Raised flooring, carpet, the back wall, the metal covers, and if a problem is found fix it. If nothing is found the Next option is to adhere the fins to the copper with something but I don't know what or how. A little dab of gorilla glue where the fins and copper meet if you have the time and patience? Well you're awake half the night anyway, why not. Those are the only things I can think of besides replacing them and yes they are expensive not to mention installation costs. $500 to $2000 per room depending on the size of the room I would guess.