Should You Install a Geothermal System or a Gas Furnace? - Ernst Heating & Cooling

Should You Install a Geothermal System or a Gas Furnace?

When your home’s heating system is on its last leg, you’re forced to make a major decision. Which heating system is the right choice for your home? Should you replace your current system with another gas furnace or should you install an electric furnace? But then, there is the question of the energy-efficient option of installing a geothermal heating system. There are so many choices that it can be very overwhelming! Our heating experts have explained some of the benefits here of installing a geothermal heating system instead of a furnace in your Hamel area home.

Whether you’re interested in installing a geothermal system or a gas furnace—give Ernst Heating & Cooling a call! We have over 35 years of experience installing, repairing, and replacing heating systems throughout Madison County and the surrounding areas.

Geothermal Heating vs. Furnace Installation

A geothermal system has a much more efficient heat exchange process than a standard heating system. Normal heating systems exchange heat energy with the outside air, which has a much wider temperature range than the moderately warm/cool earth several feet below the surface. Put simply, during the winter a geothermal heating system will move the heat from the earth into your house. In the summer, they pull the heat from your home and discharge it into the ground.

If you’re in the market for a new heating system, there are a few things to keep in mind when deciding which is best for your home.

Geothermal System Efficiency in Your Hamel, IL Home

Geothermal systems extract heat from underground sources and deliver it to your home. But furnaces generate the necessary heat to keep you and your family warm. Creating heat utilizes more energy, which means that geothermal heat pumps are more energy efficient. A heat pump moves already existing heat—offering efficiency ratings of 300 to 600 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Having an efficiency rating above 100 percent means that the geothermal system creates more energy than it consumes!

Cost Implications for Madison County Homeowners

Many homeowners turn to furnace installation because they’re scared away by the initial investment a geothermal heating system requires, they don’t take into account the amazing return on investment that comes along with a geothermal heat pump installation. The indoor portion of a geothermal pump  can last for 25 years or longer, while the outdoor buried loop has a 50-year warranty! The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that homeowners who install geothermal systems will see an energy savings of 30 to 70 percent per year on heating and 40 to 60 percent on cooling—how can you resist these savings? This means that you save anywhere from $400 to $1,000 annually, depending on your home and where you live. Although the upfront cost is more expensive, a geothermal heat pump pays itself off in just 7 to 10 years!

Comfort for You and Your Family

A geothermal heat pump requires no combustion to provide you with heat; this means no danger of carbon-monoxide poisoning. On the other hand, furnaces need a heat exchanger to be operating properly at all times to  prevent deadly carbon monoxide from flowing into the air you and your family breathe! If a furnace’s damaged heat exchanger goes unnoticed, you and your family’s health is at risk.

Heating System Installation in Madison County

Ernst Heating & Cooling was one of the first HVAC companies in the Madison County region to install geothermal heat pumps. We have been on the forefront of this technology for decades and we love to share its many benefits! If you’re interested in installing a cost-efficient heating system in your home, give us a call. We will walk you through the selection process and assist you in choosing the best heating option in the Hamel, Illinois area.

Contact or call us at 618.217.1836 for geothermal system or furnace installation in Madison County!

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