Just wondering if anyone has the made the plunge into geothermal. I've been doing some research on the topic and it seems to make a lot of sense for most housing situations.
Although I know many of you are in RVs, boats, renting, etc., I am hoping someone here has experience with it or has done the research.
Is Anyone Using a Geothermal Heat Pump?
Do you mean the "water source" type of geothermal? Or the standard reverse systems? Having had both of the ones I named in apartments, I would have neither again.
Our Carrier heat pumps that were installed in the construction of the complex in 1998 have all since been replaced with standard HVAC systems by Trane. The geothermal depend on a 220V electric heating element when the going gets tough(below 20F). Let me tell you those elements eat "lectric" up like nobody's business!! Also if your going below freezing for very long the outside units ice up badly (but that is normal).
This throws the load to the elements to bring the inside up to 68F. Not recommended. Not only do the 220V elements eat up juice, but they won't last very long doing it.
On the water source, we had that system, but the pipes into the ground seem to lose the water and your constantly filling the system up, sometimes every day. I saw this system in an older complex we managed, and it cost two arms and three legs to keep it serviced. At the time it was to be the kitten's britches in energy savings, but they left out the part of costing you service calls at average $100.00 a call, sometimes only to check pressure and refill the pipes. We quickly bought some gauges and learned that drill ourselves!!.
At least around here, you can't stop a Trane. I would recommend the Trane and it's inside air handler as well.
Our Carrier heat pumps that were installed in the construction of the complex in 1998 have all since been replaced with standard HVAC systems by Trane. The geothermal depend on a 220V electric heating element when the going gets tough(below 20F). Let me tell you those elements eat "lectric" up like nobody's business!! Also if your going below freezing for very long the outside units ice up badly (but that is normal).
This throws the load to the elements to bring the inside up to 68F. Not recommended. Not only do the 220V elements eat up juice, but they won't last very long doing it.
On the water source, we had that system, but the pipes into the ground seem to lose the water and your constantly filling the system up, sometimes every day. I saw this system in an older complex we managed, and it cost two arms and three legs to keep it serviced. At the time it was to be the kitten's britches in energy savings, but they left out the part of costing you service calls at average $100.00 a call, sometimes only to check pressure and refill the pipes. We quickly bought some gauges and learned that drill ourselves!!.
At least around here, you can't stop a Trane. I would recommend the Trane and it's inside air handler as well.
Interesting.
My brother installed a geothermal heat pump a few years ago. It costs him about 75% less now to heat and cool his house than it used to, it also heats his hot water, and he says it has required zero maintenance so far and he expects it to last 50 years. He also showed me his electric bills for the years before and years after, just to prove his point.
On a side note, many people confuse the air source heat pumps with the geothermal heat pumps. There is a big difference between the two in terms of efficiency, longevity, etc. The geothermal heat pumps, for example, work at the same efficiency regardless of what the temperature outside is because they draw their energy from the pipes that are buried several feet underground. Air source heat pumps generally have to switch over to electric or propane backup when the temperature gets below 30 degrees or so, depending on the model/make.
My brother installed a geothermal heat pump a few years ago. It costs him about 75% less now to heat and cool his house than it used to, it also heats his hot water, and he says it has required zero maintenance so far and he expects it to last 50 years. He also showed me his electric bills for the years before and years after, just to prove his point.
On a side note, many people confuse the air source heat pumps with the geothermal heat pumps. There is a big difference between the two in terms of efficiency, longevity, etc. The geothermal heat pumps, for example, work at the same efficiency regardless of what the temperature outside is because they draw their energy from the pipes that are buried several feet underground. Air source heat pumps generally have to switch over to electric or propane backup when the temperature gets below 30 degrees or so, depending on the model/make.
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jeremymday
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I am referring to the one M referred to. The heat pump stays inside the building and usually uses a closed system where water is pumped into and out of the ground. The ground heats or cools the water to around 50 or so degrees depending on where you live and that "geothermal" energy is used to heat or cool the house.
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jeremymday
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- Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2010 1:06 am
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here is one of the few testimonials I could find on the web.
http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs ... /803070428
let me know if you all find anymore...
http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs ... /803070428
let me know if you all find anymore...