How much would it cost to install a geothermal heat pump in New York?

I have a 1,900 square foot home in New York. How much would it cost to install a geothermal heat pump to replace my furnace and air conditioner? How much area is needed for the underground pipe system? How long do these installations usually take?

Homeowner in Macedon, NY (Posted on July 30, 2010)

It’s impossible to give an exact price for a geothermal system without a detailed analysis of the home. It is very important to size geothermal systems properly. If the system is too small or poorly designed, you won’t be comfortable or happy. If the system is too large, you’ll pay too much up front, and you might not be happy during New York’s humid summers.

A big part of the cost is determined by any necessary site work or drilling outside, driven in part be size and in part by conditions. While I hate to give costs without knowing the specifics, you’re probably in the $20,000-25,000 range in much of upstate New York. It can cost considerably more in the downstate region.

The size of the piping system depends on the size of the overall system. It is possible in many instances to do a vertical system in which the pipe goes straight down. This is often the preferred way for retrofit systems and avoid tearing up much of the property. The time all of this will take depends largely on the outside work and the system its replacing. It can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks.

When considering geothermal, you should first take a look at the whole house and see if there are other energy-savings opportunities. This will not only save you money regardless of the system you select, but also make you more comfortable. And because the size of the system greatly affects geothermal price, good efficiency upgrades can often pay for themselves immediately with a savings on the geothermal system. In New York, you may have the added benefit of being able to tap into Home Performance with ENERGY STAR incentives offered by the state.

Thanks,
Mike
GreenHomes America

Ted Kidd Energy Guru

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Unfortunately, the questions are hard to answer sight unseen. I would really need to see the home, the energy bills and the property - or at very least a lot of pictures.

In very general terms, there is a 30 percent federal tax credit and potentially a 10 percent state rebate, so after credits and incentives, the net cost is likely to be $10,000 to $25,000. An analysis of the energy saved over alternative sources needs to be performed to determine if the incremental cost will justify the installation. For some people, that matters more than others.

Late summer/early fall is a great time to do it because the soil is driest.

Ted