I have an 18 year old ?? ClimateMaster 3.5 ton geothermal heat pump
(Model #805042GHWSTRTNON - 1 Stage Unit) that needs to be replaced. (It
has a freon leak that I am told is in an area that is not repairable.)
It is located in an "attic crawl space" with limited area
- seems as if the house was built for this unit, as there is not much
room left.

Anyway, when I replace it (haven't gotten my quotes back yet), will it
likely be cheaper to replace it with a modern GTHP (even if I might
need a split unit for space) than to switch to a conventional unit ?

I live in South Louisiana, so we need the cooling alot more than we
need the heating... (As always, needed repairs come at the worst time
of the year...)

Kevin

yddkdd wrote:
I have an 18 year old ?? ClimateMaster 3.5 ton geothermal heat pump
(Model #805042GHWSTRTNON - 1 Stage Unit) that needs to be replaced. (It
has a freon leak that I am told is in an area that is not repairable.)
It is located in an "attic crawl space" with limited area
- seems as if the house was built for this unit, as there is not much
room left.

Anyway, when I replace it (haven't gotten my quotes back yet), will it
likely be cheaper to replace it with a modern GTHP (even if I might
need a split unit for space) than to switch to a conventional unit ?

I live in South Louisiana, so we need the cooling alot more than we
need the heating... (As always, needed repairs come at the worst time
of the year...)

Kevin

Geothermal heat pumps are more expensive than conventional to install, but have FAR lower operating costs. Both are likely to cost you several thousand dollars to acquire and install. Given that you already have the ground loop installed, the cost differential is not likely to be too large.

Space can be an issue, so considering a split unit is a worthwhile issue to raise with the HVAC contractor.