Hey-oooooh out there, Grand Strand! It’s Cool Cat swinging by to give you the inside deets on geothermal systems. Geothermal systems have been growing in popularity as more homeowners look for ways to save on their utility bills and try to lower their carbon footprint. Before deciding on a geothermal system, it’s important to have the 411 on all the pros and cons.
The Pros of Geothermal Systems
There are lots of pros for geothermal systems, especially being less heavy on your wallet. Cool Cat has the pros you need to know.
- Green – Geothermal systems have low environmental impact. It’s the greenest and cleanest way to heat and cool your home.
- Save Money – Geothermal systems are highly efficient because they move or transfer heat energy rather than creating it. This means you can save up to 60% on your heating bills and up to 50% on your cooling bills. That’s some serious cabbage!
- Not Weather Dependent – Geothermal systems harness the energy of the earth deep underground, so it’s not dependent on the weather forecast to work. That’s coooool!
- Quiet – With a geothermal system, the noisier components are underground so you can enjoy comfortable temperatures without a noisy compressor. In fact, it’s nearly silent operation.
The Cons of Geothermal Systems
While there are lots of pros, there are also some cons to geothermal systems.
- Excavation – Because geothermal systems are housed deep underground, getting one for an existing home means a major excavation project in your yard. They are a bit easier for new builds because they can be installed during the building process and save money and mess on the excavation. Many people feel the big dig up is a blocker issue.
- Higher Cost Upfront – Geothermal systems have to be installed deep underground, which means not only digging up your yard but also an expensive upfront cost to have one installed. However, the savings will more than pay for the system within an average of 5 years or so. That upfront cost can really twist your whiskers though!
- Expensive Repairs – While it’s rare, sometimes the underground components can get damaged from settling soil, tree roots or even rodents. If that happens, it requires digging up your yard to fix it and that can get expensive fast.
Like anything, there are pros and cons to getting a geothermal system. On one paw, you’ll be saving tons of cabbage on your heating and cooling bills while also protecting the environment. On the other paw, installing the system and repairing the system require digging up your yard, which can get messy and expensive.
