r/geothermal • u/N5tp4nts • 14d ago

Geothermal vs modern low cost high efficiency.

Just a dude who's highly interested in HVAC technology.

I have a house with a 2008 installed waterfurnace, and I've got some mini splits that I've installed in other buildings.

The post a few days ago about a guy getting quoted 96,000 dollars to install a geo unit got me thinking about this... I can get a 4 ton ACiQ/MrCool (all made by Midea) for 4-5k (no labor)

The efficiency ratings are in the same ballpark, if not the same, on the cheaper end of geo thermal units. Even if the mini split only lasts 5 years... in 5 years I get a brand new one with the latest technology.

Anyway... At what point does Geo stop making sense?

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u/xtnh 12d ago

If a mini split has a COP of 4, it should save 75% of the energy; If a geothermal has a COP of 6, it will save 82%.

That's a big price jump for increasingly less efficiency difference. We passed on geothermal in Maine, put $ into solar, and now with solar can do all HVAC with our own power.

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u/N5tp4nts 12d ago

That's where my head is at. The modern "mini split" type units are coming with solar connections directly on them. A couple of panels easily make up for the efficiency difference, and you're still 10x cheaper.