Steve2278
New Member
I'm building a new home on my existing property and I've been researching a number of different heating/cooling options and I find geothermal to be particularly appealing. Unfortunately the installation cost appears to be quite high when factoring-in the cost of the pump, piping and excavation etc. However, I got some very encouraging news today from a an experienced well driller who gave me an estimate on drilling a new well, as my existing well is rather shallow and picks-up a lot of sediment.
He gave me a price for drilling a new well, and he said if he got the job (and since he would have his drill rig set-up on the property) he would drill 3 seperate holes 120' deep for the geothermal system at a cost of $500.00 per hole. Great price in my opinion! Unfortunately the well contractor does not install the geothermal piping and I guess my question is "does the piping have to be installed at the time the holes are drilled?"
I have not yet selected a contractor for the geothermal system and I don't know if I need to do so at this point?
Geothermal contractors have a very specialized niche' trade and these guys have the right to make a buck just like everyone else and I respect that. At the same time, I'm a guy who's trying to save some money where ever I can and I want to minimize my expenses as much as possible. I came across a number of geothermal heat pumps after researching retailers and I can purchase a 3-ton geothermal heat pump for about $3,500.00. That being said, I can have the holes for the vertical loop system drilled for about $1,500 and I can purchase a pump for about $3,500, that leaves the installation and HVAC work remaining and I'd like to hire a contractor do just that portion of work specifically. I'm not sure if they would be willing to?...but I hope I can find a couple guys who would be interested in working in this capacity.
The problem is that most contractors want to take-on the entire job, however, I'd prefer to purchase the unit and drill the holes for the loops myself to save on installation costs. I'm just not sure if most contractors would be willing to work in this capacity and I'm not sure at which point to involve them and to what degree?
Any advice on how I need to proceed from here would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
Steve
He gave me a price for drilling a new well, and he said if he got the job (and since he would have his drill rig set-up on the property) he would drill 3 seperate holes 120' deep for the geothermal system at a cost of $500.00 per hole. Great price in my opinion! Unfortunately the well contractor does not install the geothermal piping and I guess my question is "does the piping have to be installed at the time the holes are drilled?"
I have not yet selected a contractor for the geothermal system and I don't know if I need to do so at this point?
Geothermal contractors have a very specialized niche' trade and these guys have the right to make a buck just like everyone else and I respect that. At the same time, I'm a guy who's trying to save some money where ever I can and I want to minimize my expenses as much as possible. I came across a number of geothermal heat pumps after researching retailers and I can purchase a 3-ton geothermal heat pump for about $3,500.00. That being said, I can have the holes for the vertical loop system drilled for about $1,500 and I can purchase a pump for about $3,500, that leaves the installation and HVAC work remaining and I'd like to hire a contractor do just that portion of work specifically. I'm not sure if they would be willing to?...but I hope I can find a couple guys who would be interested in working in this capacity.
The problem is that most contractors want to take-on the entire job, however, I'd prefer to purchase the unit and drill the holes for the loops myself to save on installation costs. I'm just not sure if most contractors would be willing to work in this capacity and I'm not sure at which point to involve them and to what degree?
Any advice on how I need to proceed from here would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
Steve