Geo Thermal heating and cooling systems
 

how many of you have it? We just got ours installed by a wonderful company and loved how they did it. We hope we can save on our electric bills and enjoy the comfort of our home more without any repair problems. They were so professional, knowledgeable, polite and cleaned up after themselves. Maybe less dust in the air and better air inside the house...it may take a lifetime to pay for it, but worth every penny in comfort...and it will last through another generation.

i've seen the commercials for them and think it's a terrific idea. too bad i don't have a house to install one... enjoy yours

We have had it for 13 years--we put it in when we built the house. We've been very pleased with it--I like that the unit is in the basement and not exposed to the elements outside. It's quiet and efficient and since our power is provided by a rural electric company (which is more expensive than the bigger companies), it makes a difference. It does cost more to put in but recoups that in savings. Our water heater is connected to it and it keeps a consistent temperature. I don't think you'll be disappointed with it.

My parents and in-laws both have geothermal. The one thing that we notice is that when the furnace is running, at say 75 degrees, the air coming out of the vents is 75 degrees, and blowing hard. It's not like combustion forced air that you would go and stand near a register to warm up. Being near a register when it's blowing can be quite drafty. Same with the AC, It's COLD. But both sets of parents love the low utility bills and wouldn't trade that for the world.

I love our Geo Thermal. We live in the county and decided instead of a new furnace to install Geo thermal. We saved enough by not paying for propane to pay for the unit in 6 yrs. I would recommend this in a heart beat to anyone. Our air is not as dry in the winter so I don't have to run a humidifier as much. It also heats our water which means we are not paying as much for gas to heat our water. We used to fill our propane tank (500 gal.) once a month and now fill it maybe twice a year.

Thanks for your stories...it helps a lot to know from you all whose opinions I really value. It does not blow hard out of any register or make any sound at all. We had them set the temp on 76, because dh freezes to death when I am cool. And so far, its cool inside; enough to sleep well at night. We put in two fifty gallon water heaters...so guests can take long showers....like DD.

The trane they installed when building the new house was a cheap model, only backed by warranty for five years and it was costing us big $$$$ to keep it running eight/nine years later. Not installed right, it was leaking air/heat into the attic.

May you all have a good day. Thanks again to all who shared their experiences.

I know several people who have it and they all love it! I've not heard anything negative. Actually, I'm in the process of getting it. The drilling was done last week and the guy that connects the loops and buries everything finished up yesterday. I've been heating in the winter pretty much solely with wood in a Buck fireplace insert. I decided, after the rough winter we had, that I'm getting too old to cut and stack wood and then haul it in the house. My downstairs heat is propane with electric upstairs pre-geo. I'll have geothermal up and down when they get done and am looking forward to only having fires when I want them - not because I need them! My units are still working but they will be 20 this year. I figured I needed to do geo before they died and while the 30% tax credit is still an option - it expires after 2016.

If you go GEO make sure it is the proper size for your home. I had one installed in my 3 level farm house, we built in 1973. Burned wood until spouse passed in 2010, then well went bad in 2011, was convinced to save lots of $$ to do GEO.
WELL, the unit was not big enough for my square footage and was sending me to the poor house at close to $400 to heat at 68°. Had to have it removed because it was running most of the time on the electric assist, which is very costly. 5 dealers checked it all out---runs perfectly-----only needs to be in a smaller house to save any money. It was running my new well so much, it turned all water outlets, bathroom bowls orange, not a problem since it was removed.

So make sure it is bigger than what your square footage says you need. I should have had 2 units put together for the size of my home.
Am not a fan of the dealers around me, when they tell me I need to have $20,000 in improvements to make it work properly.

Sorry, farmquilter that you had a bad experience with it....I have hear of that happening. The firm we choose from Centerville, Iowa was quite good and had 'fixed' several in MO that was not put in right. They must figure the square footage of the house; decide if they use two wells or coils under ground. Those that constantly pump do run up the electrical costs...but many do not tell you that up front. Our system is one that 'shuts itself off' once the temperature is on the 'set' degree....the coils are constantly circulating the fluids through the holding tank in the furnace room. ..that heats up our two fifty gallon water tanks. And I can understand the anger at dealers who want to charge too much to fix what you had. Have my fingers crossed that we don't occur the higher electric bills...time will tell. The fam is set on a very low setting but moves all the air in the house.

Unfortunately the Trane furnace was costing us so much, and no one could get it going, but charged for their 'service' anyhow. Yep, went through phone for Iowa and Missouri trying to get it truly working again. Putting out $$$ to the 'repair' person who came and looked...charged us...and left with it not working....again.

My niece & nephew-in-law installed one 30 years ago which is still working. They both have horrible allergies and the even temps and low dust-generation have helped them tremendously. Plus their lawn is always lush from the water which is released. They would replace it in a heartbeat if it died. A church in my hometown just did their entire plant and they expect to reap big benefits. Go for it.