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I have a vacation home up in the White Mountains of Arizona. I have an 18-year-old propane fired boiler that has gone out. I would like to change to an electric or geothermal system while utilizing the piping already in place, possibly a unit that has air conditioning as well as heat. Any suggestions?
A geothermal water to water system is a very good option to replace expensive-to-operate propane heat. There is a higher initial cost to install the ground bores and heat exchange tubing, but in the long run it is a very inexpensive system to operate. Your system would have to be evaluated to determine if there is a possibility of cooling with it also, since the two functions of heating and cooling are very different from each other in several practical ways. I assume the home currently does not have any duct work so whether you install an electric or a geothermal system, duct work will need to be added for the air conditioning to operate. However there are geothermal manufacturers that do build units that can be used like a boiler for heating and also be able to cool the home through the duct work in the summer. Again, the geothermal will be the most expensive choice but I would highly recommend you not write off this option. There is currently a 30% uncapped federal tax credit for geothermal installations and the cost of the duct work could be included in the total amount of the tax credit. Also, most states and or local areas have additional incentives to install a geothermal system, some of which include a lifetime property tax credit. I would recommend getting a couple of estimates from licensed HVAC companies, like Goettl Air Conditioning in Tempe, AZ at (888) 752-7752. Have them help you consider the pros and cons of installing each system as well as to research what incentives are available in your area.
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