1) Remember that furnaces are a long-term investment

You may want to initially shop by price, but that is a short-sighted approach. You are trying to find a new system that will provide heating for many years.

Geothermal heat pumps are one option to consider when replacing your furnace. Compared to furnaces, geothermal heat pumps offer substantial savings on your heating bill. The initial installation and equipment may cost more, but they can last a lifetime (as one Florida man can attest) and cost far less to operate than furnaces.

(Pay particular attention to the red bars of the below table, as that represents annual heatingcosts.)

If you have a gas furnace, geothermal can save you a lot on your monthly utility bill. And if you heat with propane or fuel oil, you can save much more. Could you find some where to spend all the money you could save with geothermal? I know I could!

Yes, fossil fuel prices are currently very reasonable and filling up our vehicles isn’t painful for once. But if you are planning on having your next heating system for a long time, you know that volatile fossil fuel prices will increase again.

Not familiar with how geothermal works? You’re not alone. This video explains it very well:

Curious to see how much your home can save with geothermal? Use our quick and easy geothermal savings calculator.

2) They’re Called Features For a Reason

Based on the premise that furnaces are a long-term investment, wouldn’t you say it’s worth it to spend a few more dollars and be more comfortable in your home for the next 20 years? That’s a no brainer.

That means selecting based on features, such as

• Humidity control, which adds more humidity in the winter months when your skin may be dry and removing humidity in humid summer months.
• Variable operation, which automatically adapts to provide better comfort and reliability no matter the weather outside. Many geothermal systems now provide variable operation.
• Variable-speed blowers can even help even out hot or cold spots in your home and eliminate air blasts you feel with many systems.
• Better safety. For instance, compared to gas furnaces, geothermal heat pumps don’t use flames to heat your home. So dangerous carbon monoxide and gas leaks are eliminated.
  

3) Choose your contractor wisely

Good, trustworthy contractors can make the difference between great installation and performance, and months of headaches. Most manufacturers have a list of preferred contractors for you to choose from.

ClimateMaster’s GeoElite Dealers have decades of experience in installing the most energy efficient heating and cooling systems. They are proven to go above and beyond the call to make you happy. Here is a list of our GeoElite dealers near you:

4) Be a Star Gazer

Heating units are becoming more energy efficient all the time. ENERGY STAR® recognizes products that save energy and their web site is a great resource to find the most energy efficient heating options.

One step up from a simple ENERGY STAR Certification, ENERGY STAR’s Most Efficient Status recognizes the leading edge in energy efficient products. There are many geothermal heat pumps that have achieved Most Efficient 2015 status, available here.

In heating options, you get what you pay for. Investing in an energy-efficient heating unit means you spend more at first but your heating bills, year after year, will most likely be lower (see table above).

5) Look for Rebates or Tax Credits

Some of the energy-efficient heating units won’t cost you as much as you think, as some qualify for federal tax credits.

For example, geothermal heat pumps qualify for 30% tax credits, so you can deduct 30% of the total geothermal system installed cost from their tax liability or tax due. This geothermal tax credit page explains this in more detail.

Finally, ask about warranties. Many heating systems now are reliable, but when making a large investment it’s a good idea to know what the warranty situation is for possible units you want to buy.