How it works in our climate
A few feet below the surface, Oklahoma dirt stays around 60°F all year. A geothermal heat pump circulates water through a loop buried in that dirt and uses it as the place to dump heat in July and pull heat from in January. A conventional system fights 105°F air in summer and 15°F air in winter. Geothermal never does. That is the whole reason it uses so much less electricity.
ClimateMaster, the brand we install, is built in Oklahoma City. The equipment was designed for exactly this climate, and parts and support are 40 minutes away instead of across the country.
What it saves
The U.S. Department of Energy puts geothermal energy savings at roughly 30 to 60 percent on heating and cooling compared with conventional equipment. In our experience with homes around Washington, Purcell, and Norman, families replacing an older electric heat pump or propane furnace see the biggest drop. Homes that were on cheap natural gas heat see a smaller winter saving but still a large summer one.
Geothermal also handles your water heating for close to free in summer through a desuperheater, which is a real number on a family's bill that most calculators leave out.
What it costs
Geothermal costs more up front than a conventional system, mostly because of the loop field. A vertical loop needs a drilling rig. A horizontal loop needs open ground and a trencher, which is why acreage properties around Washington, Goldsby, and Blanchard are ideal candidates. We will not quote a number on a web page because lot conditions swing it widely. We will give you a firm number after a free site visit.
Incentives change often. Federal residential credits have been expanded, reduced, and expired more than once in the last decade, and utility co-ops in our area have offered their own rebates at different times. Ask us what applies the month you are ready to build, and we will tell you straight rather than promise a credit that has lapsed.
When it is worth it
Geothermal is a strong choice if you are building a new custom home, if you own acreage and plan to stay ten years or more, if you are on propane or resistance electric heat, or if you simply want the quietest, longest-lasting system available. The indoor unit commonly lasts 20 to 25 years and the buried loop is typically warrantied for 50.
It is a poor choice if you are selling within a few years, if your lot is small with no drilling access, or if your existing gas furnace and AC are less than eight years old and working well. In those cases we will tell you to keep your money.
Need a hand with this?
Call or text (405) 615-2707. Same day on most calls around Washington, Purcell, and Norman.