All, thanks in advance for your honest and professional input. I recently just purchased a home in Westchester County, New York. The home was build in 1971 and the entire HVAC system is in need of an overhaul / replacement. That being said, the wife and I are contemplating the installation of a geothermal system based on research I have done on the topic thus far or sticking with oil and digging up the burried UST and installing new tanks in the basement. I've had one contractor come out so far and another planned for this weekend to give geothermal estimates. I was hoping the pros could let me know if this quote seems reasonable, if the system size is applicable, too much, too little etc. The cost of geothermal is just so much more than revamping the entire HVAC and sticking with oil... Thanks so much. Please see two posts down for quote details formatted nicely, thanks for the help!

my apologies for the wall of text, i'm not sure why it won't format correctly... i tried

Maybe this is better:

All, thanks in advance for your honest and professional input. I recently just purchased a home in Westchester County, New York. The home was build in 1971 and the entire HVAC system is in need of an overhaul / replacement. That being said, the wife and I are contemplating the installation of a geothermal system based on research I have done on the topic thus far or sticking with oil and digging up the burried UST and installing new tanks in the basement. I've had one contractor come out so far and another planned for this weekend to give geothermal estimates. I was hoping the pros could let me know if this quote seems reasonable, if the system size is applicable, too much, too little etc. The cost of geothermal is just so much more than revamping the entire HVAC and sticking with oil... Thanks so much. Thoughts on the equipment, installation size, cost, anything at all as I am very new and "green" to all of this.

House build in 1971. Currently using heating oil burning furnace and central air 2 zones, 2 floors, 3200 square feet total 4 bedroom 4 bath. As a result of our survey made of the house and after our discussion, we propose the following installation:

1. Furnish and install one 5 ton, and one 3 ton Climate Master, TTS two stage split units in the basement to be matched to new variable speed air handlers in place of your existing air handlers. The 5 ton system will supply the first floor. The 3 ton system will supply the second floor. The air handling units will be installed on Styrofoam blocks in a secondary drain pan with safety switch. Each air handler will be installed with electric heat coils to provide auxiliary heat if required.

2. Furnish and install one new 80 gallon electric hot water heater to provide domestic hot water.

3. Furnish and install necessary material to connect geothermal desuperheaters to new electric hot water heater.

4. Furnish and install necessary refrigerant piping from new split geothermal units to new air handling units.

5. Fabricate and install necessary galvanized metal transitions from new air handling units to your existing supply and return mains.

6. Furnish and install necessary material to seal and insulate existing accessible supply and return duct.

7. Furnish and install roughly 2 new air outlets for the second floor. New outlets will be insulated flexible runouts and will connect to your existing supply main. Registers and diffusers will be standard contractor grade.

8. Furnish and install 2 new digital programmable thermostats.

9. Complete necessary piping to geothermal loops from geothermal unit to foundation wall.

10. Provide a certified subcontractor to perform geothermal drilling.

11. Furnish and install circulators and controls for geothermal loops.

12. Furnish and install propylene glycol and purge geothermal loops.

13. Provide low voltage terminations. Compressor is covered under manufacturer’s 10 year warranty, and parts and labor are covered under manufacturer’s 5 year warranty.

Exceptions: Power and low voltage wiring, Domestic water piping, Cutting and Patching, Landscaping, Flashing, Excavation, Condition beyond “rough grade” after drilling, Domestic water piping, Dewatering services, Permits and Fees. The cost of the above is $53,135.00 with the following terms: 30% upon acceptance, 30% upon completion of drilling, 30% upon delivery of equipment with the balance due upon start and test. This option is eligible for a 30% tax credit from the federal government.

Accepted by: _______________________________

Option No. 1 - We will furnish and install one Aprilaire model 800 Steam humidifier. We will furnish and install necessary material to connect to ductwork. We will furnish and install new condensate piping from humidifier to an interior drain. The pricing for this option is $1,250.00 per humidifier desired. See exclusions above.

Accepted by: _______________________________

Option No. 2 – We will furnish and install one Honeywell model F200 media filter and cabinet. We will furnish and install necessary material to connect new filter to new air handling return main. The pricing for this option is $575.00 per system. I was also told that they didn’t include any electrical numbers, but a good budget would be an additional $3,150 for the electrician's cost.

All, thanks in advance for your honest and professional input. I recently just purchased a home in Westchester County, New York. The home was build in 1971 and the entire HVAC system is in need of an overhaul / replacement. That being said, the wife and I are contemplating the installation of a geothermal system based on research I have done on the topic thus far or sticking with oil and digging up the burried UST and installing new tanks in the basement. I've had one contractor come out so far and another planned for this weekend to give geothermal estimates.

 I was hoping the pros could let me know if this quote seems reasonable, if the system size is applicable, too much, too little etc. The cost of geothermal is just so much more than revamping the entire HVAC and sticking with oil... Thanks so much.

Thoughts on the equipment, installation size, cost, anything at all as I am very new and "green" to all of this. House build in 1971 Currently using heating oil burning furnace and central air 2 zones, 2 floors, 3200 square feet total 4 bedroom 4 bath As a result of our survey made of the house and after our discussion, we propose the following installation:

1. Furnish and install one 5 ton, and one 3 ton Climate Master, TTS two stage split units in the basement to be matched to new variable speed air handlers in place of your existing air handlers. The 5 ton system will supply the first floor. The 3 ton system will supply the second floor. The air handling units will be installed on Styrofoam blocks in a secondary drain pan with safety switch. Each air handler will be installed with electric heat coils to provide auxiliary heat if required.
2. Furnish and install one new 80 gallon electric hot water heater to provide domestic hot water.
 3. Furnish and install necessary material to connect geothermal desuperheaters to new electric hot water heater.
4. Furnish and install necessary refrigerant piping from new split geothermal units to new air handling units.
5. Fabricate and install necessary galvanized metal transitions from new air handling units to your existing supply and return mains
. 6. Furnish and install necessary material to seal and insulate existing accessible supply and return duct.
 7. Furnish and install roughly 2 new air outlets for the second floor. New outlets will be insulated flexible runouts and will connect to your existing supply main. Registers and diffusers will be standard contractor grade. 8. Furnish and install 2 new digital programmable thermostats.
 9. Complete necessary piping to geothermal loops from geothermal unit to foundation wall.
10. Provide a certified subcontractor to perform geothermal drilling.
11. Furnish and install circulators and controls for geothermal loops.
12. Furnish and install propylene glycol and purge geothermal loops.
13. Provide low voltage terminations. Compressor is covered under manufacturer’s 10 year warranty, and parts and labor are covered under manufacturer’s 5 year warranty.
Exceptions: Power and low voltage wiring, Domestic water piping, Cutting and Patching, Landscaping, Flashing, Excavation, Condition beyond “rough grade” after drilling, Domestic water piping, Dewatering services, Permits and Fees.

 The cost of the above is $53,135.00 with the following terms: 30% upon acceptance, 30% upon completion of drilling, 30% upon delivery of equipment with the balance due upon start and test. This option is eligible for a 30% tax credit from the federal government. Accepted by: _______________________________
Option No. 1 - We will furnish and install one Aprilaire model 800 Steam humidifier. We will furnish and install necessary material to connect to ductwork. We will furnish and install new condensate piping from humidifier to an interior drain. The pricing for this option is $1,250.00 per humidifier desired. See exclusions above.
 Accepted by: _______________________________
Option No. 2 – We will furnish and install one Honeywell model F200 media filter and cabinet. We will furnish and install necessary material to connect new filter to new air handling return main. The pricing for this option is $575.00 per system. I was also told that they didn’t include any electrical numbers, but a good budget would be an additional $3,150 for the electrician's cost.

1) 8 tons is a LOT of capacity for 3200 SF in SE NY. Get a load calc, maybe also an energy audit including blower door testing to see what can be done to get this down to 4-6 tons.

2,3) Don't bother with the DSH option unless a separate preheat buffer tank upstream of the new 80 gallon water heater is included. Consider a heat pump water heater in lieu of electric resistance tank

5-7) Be sure augmented ducts can / will supply each room with required airflow at temperature differences likely to be attained by the geo system. Geo heats air only half as much as gas or oil fired warm air furnaces, so up to twice the airflow may be required for same delivered heat.

Tightening up the house (air sealing) should reduce / eliminate need for humidifier. Failing that, get some house plants and water them.

I'm with Curt I was struck by the number of proposed tons and the absence of a buffer tank for the DSH.
Is neither air handler in the basement? Why 2 split systems?

Joe, the basement is a crawl space with about 4 feet of vertical space. Currently there are two air handlers down there for the existing forced air system. I'm new to all of this so do not know the pros or cons to the split system you ate referring to. Is this something I should worry about?

I have also been on contact with a contractor that can do DX systems as well. That throws yet another hoop in the decision making process. I want to future proof our home but obviously do not want to make the wrong decision on the system or the type.

Jason

The home was build in 1971 and the entire HVAC system is in need of an overhaul / replacement.

Did you catch the part about getting an energy audit to see how your envelope can be improved? That is still #1. Insulation, air sealing, windows, etc.

It may be too difficult to move horizontal package units into your crawl.
Here's some thoughts on DX:
http://www.greenbuildingtalk.com/Forums/tabid/53/aff/13/aft/79941/afv/topic/Default.aspx

If nat gas isn't available, I would expand your thinking to installing any type of heat pump - or a hybrid system involving a heat pump + your current system or resistance heat.