With the heavy heating load in the cold season and a strong air conditioning requirement in summer, a geothermal heat pump is an excellent heating and cooling option in Maine for homeowners looking for an efficient, green and comfortable HVAC system.
But where should you look to find a reputable installer? How do you gauge their experience with geothermal? Here are our top questions we think you should ask your Maine heat pump installer to make sure you choose a skilled and qualified geothermal expert.
Are you a member of the New England Geothermal Professional Association?
A sign of an experienced and qualified installer is belonging to the local geothermal association. For Maine, that means being a member of the New England Geothermal Professional Association (NEGPA).
Another important association for your Maine heat pump installer to belong to is the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA). IGSHPA is the national organization for geothermal professionals and has a long history of delivering training and seminars to enhance the knowledge and professionalism of its members. If the installer you’re interviewing is a member of one or both of these organizations, you know they’re in good standing within the geothermal community.
How are you performing my home’s heat load analysis for a heat pump in Maine?
How large your heat pump should be is determined by performing a heat load analysis. A heat load analysis is used to calculate how many Btu’s per hour your home needs to remain comfortably warm throughout the year. The calculation is based on information such as where your home is located, how large it is, whether it has a basement, and how many windows and what type of insulation your home has. Your geothermal installer should use a software program such as Wrightsoft to do the analysis.
Unfortunately, not all installers do this. Some will use general rules of thumb like square footage to determine how large your heat pump should be. This method has a major drawback: if your installer guesses wrong, you could have a heat pump that is too small. A small heat pump won’t be able to provide you with enough heat on the coldest days of the year, even if it runs continuously.
Are there any rebates available for Maine heat pumps?
If you’re installing a heat pump in your home, you may qualify for a 30% rebate offered by the federal government. You should also ask about any rebates that are available to residents of Maine and your municipality.
Do you have references for heat pumps in Maine that you’ve installed?
This is the last and most important question you should be asking. Any experienced geothermal heat pump installer should produce references without hesitation.
Once you have your list of references, check them! Talk to homeowners and ask them if they like their geothermal installation, how much their heating bills decreased after the install, if they’ve had any maintenance issues and if your installer has been responsive to those issues. From our experience, happy geothermal heat pump owners will give glowing reviews – many love the chance to talk about how great their system is!
Choosing a heat pump installer in Maine may seem like an overwhelming task at first, but we’re confident if you ask the questions above, you’ll be able to find a professional installer with ease. To make the process easier, use our Find a Dealer page to find a Nordic heat pump installer near you.
Interested in learning more about geothermal? Download our FREE eBook: Geothermal Energy: Consistent, Comfortable, and Cost Effective Heating and Cooling for your Home.
Photo Credit: Corey Templeton