Geothermal heat pump systems have an average lifespan of more than 20 years for the heat pump itself and 25 to 50 years for underground infrastructure. In addition, they move between three and five times the energy they consume between the interior space of a building and the ground. Geothermal systems offer the longest lifespan of any heating and cooling system. Interior components, such as the geothermal heat pump, can be expected to last approximately 25 years.
The system's terrestrial circuit can be expected to last 50 years or more. The outer parts of a geothermal air conditioning system have a lifespan of 50 years. This includes pipes buried under the ground. For interior components, the average lifespan is 25 years.
The average lifespan of an air-source heat pump is 12 years, so a geothermal system lasts two to four times longer than an air source system. If you plan to live in your home for a long time, a geothermal heat pump is an excellent investment. Although you'll pay more upfront for installation costs, you'll save money in the long run. A geothermal heat pump is no small investment, but the advantage is that they will last a long time.
The United States Department of Energy explains that more than 50% of new geothermal heat pump installations are located in areas with extreme weather conditions. Some of the first geothermal heat pump systems are still operating 30 years later with routine maintenance. For every hour your geothermal heat pump runs, it emits a pound less carbon compared to a furnace or air conditioning system. That said, if the lifespan of your heating and cooling system is the most important thing to you, you'll find that heat pumps are hard to beat.
