Geothermal Heat Pump Costs and Guide 2024

How much does a geothermal heat pump cost? What are the geothermal heat pump advantages and disadvantages? These and related issues are addressed in our geothermal heat pump price guide. We cover in comprehensive detail:

You’ll find detailed geothermal heat pump prices for the unit and for installation here. We provide the details you don’t find anywhere else, so this information will allow you to develop an accurate geothermal system price estimate before you talk to contractors about your project. Note: Geothermal heat pumps are often abbreviated “GHP.”

3 Common Misconceptions

Geothermal is just for heating – Wrong!

Other pumps need to work hard to extract heat from cold air and exhaust heat into the warm air. Not so with a geothermal pump.  Due to the constant nature of underground temperature, the ground source pump can easily extract heat when the air is cold and sink heat when the air is warm. It’s an ideal setup for an HVAC system

It takes a long time to get back the investment – Not Always!

That isn’t always the case at all.  Of course, the time it takes to recover the initial investment depends on installation costs, which can vary based on your soil type and other factors endemic to your local environment. It also depends on upon the cost of utilities like electricity. Recouping costs could take as little as four years, or as long as fifteen.

Upfront costs are overwhelming – Not Necessarily!

While the upfront costs are significantly higher than those of a more traditional HVAC system, there is plenty of help to be found in the form of tax credits. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, residential installation of a geothermal heat pump system allows the homeowner to take the renewable energy tax credit of 30%.  If you are in a rural area, or on tribal land, you may even be eligible for a grant or guaranteed loan.

Parts of a Geothermal System

A geothermal heat pump consists of three main parts.

1. Ground heat exchanger – This is the matrix of pipes, often called a loop, designed to exchange heat with the underground environment. A water-based fluid is literally pumped into the ground via these pipes. Heat is exchanged underground. After the exchange, the fluid is ready to heat or cool the home.
2. Heat pump unit – This is the unit that takes care of pumping the fluid through the loop. The moving fluid is what allows the system to work in the first place, so it’s a vital piece of the whole system.
3. Air delivery system – this is the ductwork distributing treated air throughout the building. This end of the system is not really different from other HVAC solutions.

Types of Loops

There are two main types of ground source heat pump systems. One is closed loop, the other is open loop. Open loop systems can only be used in certain circumstances, so closed loop systems are far more common.

Closed loop geothermal systems come in a few variations, but the major types are noted here.

Horizontal system – The loop (see parts of a geothermal system) is placed six feet under the surface in trenches. This variation of a closed loop system makes use of available real estate by spreading the piping around the property. Keeping the trenches relatively shallow helps to keep the cost of installation down, but it is disruptive to landscaping.

Vertical system – For smaller properties, where there simply isn’t enough space for a horizontal system, a vertical loop is installed. This involves placing the loop deep into the ground, with pipes running as far as 400 feet down in multiple places. This variation of closed loop system is more difficult to install. The vertical pipe lengths must be connected at the bottom, 400 feet down.

Lake system – In this variation of a closed loop system, instead of burying pipes underground, the system makes use of a natural body of water. The loop is coiled and placed ten feet or more below the surface of the body of water. It has the lowest cost for installation, but there may be environmental concerns. Zoning ordinances, local, state and federal laws should be researched before planning this type of system.

There really is only one variation of the open loop system. It’s similar to the lake variation of a closed loop system, but in this case, the actual lake water is used to do the work.  Ambient temperature water is pumped into the building for heating or cooling. When the water has been through the system, it is expelled back into the body of water away from the intake.  This type of system is not very common because there are not all that many suitable sites where all conditions are met: a large enough body of water close enough in proximity and of suitable depth. Like the lake system above, environmental concerns should be investigated before installation, and the source water must be clean enough to run through the system without much filtration. There’s always the risk of impelling foreign objects and of contaminated water that could produce an undesired build-up of sludge inside the loop pipes.

Pros and Cons of a Geothermal Heat Pump

Why should you consider geothermal, and what concerns remain about it?

Geothermal heat pump pros:

• Reducing heating costs by as much as 50% and cooling costs by as much as 35% compared with a conventional furnace and AC is the top reason for choosing geothermal
• Operating costs only fluctuate with electric rates, so there is more consistency than when heating with natural gas or propane
• Reducing environmental impact is a related factor that is attractive to many geothermal system buyers
• Geothermal is renewable and sustainable
• Geothermal heat is a consistent source compared with wind and solar energy
• Rebates and credits help offset GHP equipment costs

Geothermal heat pump cons:

• The equipment and installation cost is much higher compared with inexpensive furnace/AC split systems
• Retrofitting a home without ductwork or adequate ductwork can add $3,000 to $10,000 to the cost
• Installation of horizontal ground loop systems radically affects existing landscape and might require removal of an inground sprinkler system
• There are fewer qualified installers than for standard HVAC
• While damage to the loop system is rare, if it occurs, repairs are difficult and might cost as much as initial installation

If the pros outweigh the cons in your mind, as they do for many consumers, then let’s continue!

Geothermal vs Air-Source Heat Pumps

Sizing a Geothermal Heat Pump for your Purposes

All HVAC systems must be properly sized to the home or building they serve. While a host of factors must be considered as part of a load calculation, we’ve developed a quick way to determine what size geothermal heat pump you might need.

First, find your home or building location on this US Climate Zone map.

Secondly, find your zone on this chart, and measure your square feet of space by the number of BTUs required for heating and cooling:

• Zones 1 & 2 (hot): 26-30 Btu/sq. ft.
• Zone 3 (warm): 22-25 Btu/sq. ft.
• Zone 4 (moderate): +/- 20 Btu/sq. ft.
• Zone 5 (cool): 22-25 Btu/sq. ft.
• Zone 6 & 7 (cold): 26-30 Btu/sq. ft.

As you can see, the more extreme your climate’s temperatures are, either hot or cold, the larger your geothermal heat system should be.

Now, let’s see what that translates to the average home, for example one of 2,000 square feet. Here is how large the geothermal system should be in each zone:

• Zones 1 & 2 (hot): 52,000-60,000 (5 ton)
• Zone 3 (warm): 44,000-50,000 Btu (4 ton)
• Zone 4 (moderate): 40,000 Btu (3.5 ton)
• Zone 5 (cool): 44,000-50,000 Btu (4 ton)
• Zone 6 & 7 (cold): 52,000-60,000 (5 ton)

Geothermal Heat Pump Costs Factors

A number of factors are involved in the cost to install a new geothermal heat pump solution. These can be split into the indoor and outdoor portions of the system.

Indoor Portion

• Retrofitting an existing structure means existing ductwork can either be used, or it must be replaced. Fortunately, existing ductwork is often adequate for geothermal heat pump solutions. If it’s being installed in new construction, then ductwork is required regardless of the kind of heating and cooling solution used.
• The size of the building will have a major cost impact. Obviously, a larger building requires more heating and cooling capacity than a smaller building.  Using multiple zones (for upstairs and downstairs, for example) will increase the complexity and cost of the system.  A larger building will require a larger heat pump or additional heat pumps if building multiple zones.
• Insulation is also a factor. Homes in the southwest are often built to withstand the intense summer heat by locating windows away from the southern exposure. Older homes in some parts of the country are insulation deficient, which will drive up energy demands to keep the building at a controlled temperature.  All of this factors into details of the system needed, and thus impacts the cost.

Outdoor Portion

• The size of the loop field is only one aspect that can drive cost. Obviously, a larger building will require a larger field of buried looping pipes, but climate can also impact cost.  Areas like Northern Minnesota, where temperatures can dip well into the sub-zero range for days at a time, will require a larger field than a place like Georgia, where the climate is milder. The same is true about hot climates, like Phoenix, where the high temperature is well over 100 degrees for months at a time.
• Other factors include soil type. Is your property sitting on rich, loamy soil that’s easy to move, or do the contractors have to punch through a concrete-like layer of caliche? Related to soil type is the orientation of the loop field. A horizontal loop requires trenching of six feet. Vertical loops require excavating as much as 400 feet into the ground, which could prove difficult if digging through a layer of rock is involved.
• An open loop geothermal system sourcing and sinking from a lake or river, especially for a large commercial or industrial building, could even involve an environmental impact report and other interactions with state and federal authorities.
• One last factor is the availability of contractors to do the work. If geothermal energy is common in your area, there should be plenty of contractors available to do the work. If it’s uncommon, there might not be much selection, which means the contractors could charge a premium and have a long wait list.

Geothermal Heat Pump Costs and Brands

These brands are divided into two price classifications, moderate and high (there are no cheap GHPs). GHP installation costs are detailed below. Some brands’ pricing exhibits a wider range, and this is due to the wider spectrum of products in base/better/best

Moderate-quality brands and average costs:

• Bosch: $3,100 to $4,700
• Century: $2,700 to $4,200
• Daikin/McQuay International: $3,200 to $5,400
• First Co.: $2,400 to $3,500
• GeoCool: $2,500 to $7,000
• Geostar: $2,300 to $3,900
• Geomax: $2,700 to $4,600
• Hydro Royal: $2,500 to $3,500
• Nordic: $2,300 to $4,000

Premium-quality brands and average costs:

• Bard: $5,000 to $7,500
• Carrier/Bryant: $4,000 to $6,600
• ClimateMaster: $4,000 to $6,500
• Hydron Module: $4,800 to $7,600
• MARS/Comfort-Aire: $3,200 to $5,000
• Miami HP: $2,600 to $7,300
• Modine: $3,000 to $6,200
• Spectrum: $3,600 to $6,500
• Trane/American Standard: $4,200-$6,300
• WaterFurnace: 4,400 to $7,000

Supplies and Installation Costs

Geothermal heat pump installation is the largest part of the expense due to two factors:

1. The cost of installation kits/supplies including a circulation pump for water-to-water designs
2. The extensive excavation and/or drilling required for sinking the loop

Installation kit or collected supplies include piping to create the loop, a header/manifold for connecting the piping to the system, antifreeze and chemicals to prevent system corrosion:

• Installation supplies: $1,250 to $2,800

The labor cost of geothermal heat pump installation includes the use of excavating equipment or a well-drilling truck plus the labor cost of the crew doing the work:

• Installation labor and equipment costs: $6,500 to $15,000

Geothermal Heat Pump System Total Average Cost

An installed geothermal heat pump has an average cost of: $11,000 to $25,500

Find a Qualified and Experienced Geothermal Installer

The importance of proper installation can’t be overlooked. There’s too much that can go wrong if the crew isn’t experienced. The unit might run inefficiently or be prone to mechanical failure. The loop might fail and lead to expensive repairs or, at the least, a lot of hassle even if fixed under warranty. We recommend getting estimates from several geothermal heat pump system installers in your area. Check their references, and learn about their experience before making the decision who to hire.

Submitted Cost and Reviews From Visitors

How to Get the Best Geothermal Heat Pump Prices?

• Firstly, keep in mind that installation quality is always the most important thing for residential HVAC project. So never sacrifice contractor quality for lower price.
• Secondly, remember to look up the latest tax credit and rebates as we talked above.
• Thirdly, ask for at least 3 bids before you make the decision. You can click here to get 3 free estimates fo your local contractor, and this estimate already takes rebates and tax credit into consideration and filter unqualified contractors automatically.

At last, once you chose the right contractor, remember to use the tactics from this guide: Homeowners Tactics When Negotiating with HVAC Dealer to get the final best price.

Other Resources

Find further information on geothermal heat pumps by visiting any of the following pages.

1. National Renewable Energy Laboratory– Good information on federal policies, including tax credits and eligibility for grants and loans. Also, a table listing state policies.  Use this page to determine whether any additional savings are available in your state for geothermal solutions. The page also includes information on other energy sources, like solar and wind power.
2. S. Department of Energy– This site is a good primer on geothermal heat pump basics.
3. Energy Star– This site provides an overview of geothermal heat pumps, specifications, and buying guidance. Information on requirements to qualify for a federal tax credit can be found here.
4. The Environmental Protection Agency’s lengthy report on Advanced Residential Space Conditioning Technologies (including geothermal) is found here and can be exported into a PDF document.

Interested in other efficient systems? Read our most efficient heating system and most efficient air conditioner guide here.

Written by Rene Langer

Rene has worked 10 years in the HVAC field and now is the Senior Comfort Specialist for PICKHVAC. He holds an HVAC associate degree and EPA & R-410A Certifications.