DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am very interested in having a geothermal heating system installed in the future home I am thinking of having built.

I was impressed with the Augusta O’Conner Group article in the June 6 business section. They had ABM Mechanical of Bangor install their system.

I was wondering if you could come up with other reliable contractors in the local area. I would also greatly appreciate having reader feedback on their experiences if possible.

Another Sun Spots column a while back had mentioned $14,000 for a new home installation (April 2, sunjournal.com/sun-spots/story/1006112; and April 15, sunjournal.com/sun-spots/story/1014809). Being able to not be dependent on fossil fuel delivery or chimney pollution sounds like a good investment both for a homeowner and the environment.

Thanks for an always interesting, very informative great column that we all appreciate and learn from.

Looking forward to any and all feedback you or others can share on their experiences and capable installers they have dealt with. Thanks again. — L.B., Lisbon

ANSWER: Geothermal is catching on big time in Maine. One well-drilling company representative told Sun Spots that it’s the biggest part of their business these days.

For readers who are unaware of how geothermal heating works, it makes use of the fact that deep in the earth the water temperature is either warmer than the air (in the winter) or cooler (summer). Using drilled wells and pumps, the water is circulated and used to heat or cool the home or business.

The prices for these systems are higher than for a conventional HVAC system, but because of the lower operating costs, the additional investment may be returned in as few as five to 10 years.

Sun Spots recommends you do all the research you can before signing on to the project. Sun Spots wished she had done more research when she and Mr. Sun Spots had a well dug. She failed to do so, the well went way over budget, and she is still kicking herself.

Reading a book on geothermal heating and well drilling may be a bit dry, but it could save you money and frustration.

You can go to http://minerva.maine.edu and look up books throughout the state library system. Then, if your library is in the online system, enter your library card information and order them directly. With a smaller library, you may have to ask the library personnel to do it for you.

As for companies that do geothermal, Sun Spots knows of a few who advertise this service, including:

* Goodwin Well and Water, North Turner, www.goodwinwellandwater.com, 224-7861

* Hansen’s Well Drilling, Gorham, hansenswelldrilling.com, 877-839-3293

* Bob Philbrick, Augusta, www.philbrickwelldrilling.com, 1-800-809-6064.

There are others in Bangor and on the coast, but these three appear to be closest to L-A. If others who provide this service write to Sun Spots, she will include their information.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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