Comments
InformationHorder t1_iw3m2d1 wrote
The air driven heat pumps don't heat efficiently once you get below freezing. Geothermal doesn't have that problem but you do have to have a well insulated house in order for geo to keep it warm once it gets cold. Geo runs nearly continuously but runs more slowly so it's a very gradual system.
vtjohnhurt t1_iw3qy28 wrote
>The air driven heat pumps don't heat efficiently once you get below freezing.
Your information is out-of-date. The current generation of heat pumps do not have this problem.
>As long as your house is properly air-sealed and insulated, an air-source heat pump can perform well beyond temperatures of -13 degrees Fahrenheit! If you live in extreme cold, you may need to use supplemental heat, or what’s called a dual-fuel system (or consider switching to a ground-source heat pump).
https://sealed.com/resources/winter-heat-pump/
https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/ will provide in depth consultation of installation of air source heat pumps in existing homes.
Unique-Public-8594 t1_iw2s88w wrote
My understanding is it’s worth it with a new build. If changing systems, sadly, no.
InformationHorder t1_iw3lo3p wrote
As with everything in life: "it depends"
Existing duct work thats not too old? Could be as simple as a clean out.
Horizontal vs vertical ground loop? If vertical, how deep is the bedrock?
o08 t1_iw2xoau wrote
Had mine installed in 2012. My all electric house uses about 10,000 kWh/year. Cost less to install than regular furnace because of recovery act subsidies covered 30% of installation. I love it.
Vthead t1_iw3jvks wrote
Put a 2 well, 2 unit system in 8 years ago in a 3500 sq ft 1940s house along with solar and haven’t paid a heat or electric bill since. It was a 6 year payback. Systems are pretty solid. Only one compressor issue at year 4 and it it was covered under the 10 year warranty. Manosh put it all in. I would highly recommend.
stoweman t1_iw48mas wrote
I heat my whole house with a single air sourced heat pump and so far it’s been very good. There is definitely some efficiency that is lost when it drops well below zero but overall it’s been great and the upside is ac in the sweaty parts if the summer. We also have solar so that helps offset the costs.
A newer house up the road is using both geothermal and air sourced heat pumps. Might be a bit overkill but if it’s new construction and the contractor has the excavator there the costs of install seem pretty modest plus I was told that the loop only needs to be 6ish feet down.
If I had to do it again I think I’d still use air sourced with solar. Good incentives for both and solar is a good hedge for rising energy costs.
vtjohnhurt t1_iw2xtp1 wrote
I installed geothermal heat (and air conditioning) in a new house back before the newer air source heat pumps were available. We also installed some solar panels so we had zero annual fuel bills. Solar panels generated excess to our needs power for most of the year. We would draw down that net-metering credit during the heating season. We used the AC for very few days. House was very well insulated.
I'm no expert, but I'd guess that the newer air source heat pumps are almost certainly more cost-effective than geothermal for a home (if you have a place to put the outside unit). A huge upfront cost+disruption for ground source heat pump is the installation of the 'ground loop' and you don't have that for air source heat pump. Geothermal might make sense on a large commercial building.
https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/ will answer your questions objectively. They're not trying to sell you anything.