Go BottomGeoThermal Heating Cooling
 | TC33
Join Date: Posts: 1 
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2002-09-13 42341
I am in the market for a new Heating and Cooling system and was wondering if anyone has any info on GeoThermal?
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 | Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada 
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2002-09-13 42342
The concept is an excellent one, very efficient, and remarkably simple, using proven technology, albeit in a form other than the norm.
The two big problems normally encountered are 1) suitability, and 2) cost, especially for a retro-fit as compared to new construction.
If you live in a suitable area, prefferably one with a high water table, and few rocks, or on a river or lake, the cost of each BTU of energy attained is remarkably low, in fact only firewood is cheaper, and it can't (obviously) acheive cooling.
In fact I built a VERY crude geothermal A/C unit for my shop, water is pumped from a well-fed cistern, through a truck radiator set in the plenum of the wood-fired furnace (used in the winter to heat the place) and back to the cistern. It only brings the temp. down about 10-12 degrees F. but removes huge amounts of humidity (through condensation on the rad.) from the air. In fact last weekend was warm and very humid, 90 deg. & 95% humidity outside, but it was only 79 deg. & 40% humidity inside, which was MUCH nicer for working.
The big problem with a retro-fit is that you normally have to dig up a good part of your lawn to bury a 'ground loop' of piping to carry the brine solution. If, as I mentioned earlier however, you are close to a body of water (even a good-sized pond will work, you can just lay the coil in the water and your done.
Best of luck. ....
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| MRETHICS
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 190 Star City, Indiana
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2002-09-13 42347
My home has had a geo-thermal system for about 15 years, It has caused almost no trouble, and the bills are very cheap.
I do not have a loop system, but it could be plumbed that way. At the time of instalation, the contractor just hooked the discharge into a field tile. If I remember correctly, some regulations were put in place a few years ago, and It is not legal to do it that way now days, but older sytems like mine were grandfathered.
I have no idea if a loop system is more efficient than thye open system. I think it was an enviromental concern that lead to the regulations.
One benefit of these types of systems is the abundant supply of hot water they create. I plumbed in my old hot water heater, along with a torage tank wrapped with inulation. Now, I have 160 gal. of hot water. Enough to wash a car in the garage in Jan. and still have enough left for a shower when I'm done. ....
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 | Peters
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3034 Northern AL
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2002-09-13 42352
I put a geothermal in the house I am building. I used closed loops and ran the distribution through the front yard. Depending on your location you don't need to be much deeper than 4-6 ft. You can use a trencher to do the work. I used a distibution system in side the basement, the ends of the tubing through the wall. The system I used recommends 3/4 inch tubing. I would recommend the cross linked PE material used for in floor heating. I have 3000ft of ground lines for 4 tons. All the hot water you can use with 100 gallons and 2 tanks. ....
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| paul ruff
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 11 iowa
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2002-09-13 42353
I put in a ground source heat pump about 7 years ago (4 ton 2 speed unit, heats and cools 3000+ sq ft house) it has around 3000 feet of lines in the ground, has hotwater heaters to recover some of the heat. I have had no trouble with this set up. Biggest advantage I have noticed with this system is it quiet. ....
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| Peters
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3034 Northern AL
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2002-09-13 42355
I agree there is little noise from the system. I was out side the other day by the barn and heard this roar from next door, took me a minute to figure out it was from the neighbour's airconditioner. He is about 1000 ft from the barn. ....
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