Geothermal system installed

[Paul Lotakis]

Just thought I would let you know how my geothermal installation has progressed.  My home is an older home (1970) that was previously heated by electric baseboard heat and propane heating stoves.  The propane has been very expensive.  I have an electric water heater.  I started researching geothermal systems some years ago, weighing the pros/cons of various systems and especially the costs.  The age and configuration of my house made the retrofit challenging, but worthwhile.

Retrofitting radiant floor heat would have been expensive and very disruptive to living in the house.  Mark from Sullivan heating suggested an air distribution system using flexible, insulated ducting though the 30 inch deep crawlspace under the house.  This would give me both heating in the winter and air conditioning in the summer.  All electric baseboards and cadet type heating fans were disconnected and removed on the first floor, freeing up circuits on my circuit breaker panel for the heat pump.

The heat pump was a horizontal, three ton, FloridaHeatPump, that fit (barely) in the crawlspace.  Florida makes these units up to 7 or 8 tons for bigger homes in both vertical and split systems, making these units very flexible for your application.  These are extremely high rated units and among the most efficient on the market.  These units also have air filters.  Since my unit was in the crawlspace, Mark suggested that we put the filters behind the return air duct on the first floor for easy changing.  Lastly, as an added benefit, the unit has a "desuperheater" which when plumbed into my electric hot water heater, will assist in heating my hot water, further lowering my electric bills.

Whitworth Excavating did the trenchwork (three, 90 foot trenches, three feet wide, six feet deep, and five feet apart).  Sunrise Electric did the circuit work.

For those of you who already have a forced air system, your ducting is already in place!

I have been enjoying the system for two days now and really appreciate the cooling on the hot days.  Looking forward to a toasty winter and will get back to you all on what the saving were next year.  I know I will save at least 2,500 a year in propane costs.  I got rid of one propane stove and retained one for emergency heating for winter storm power outages and some ambiance now and then when I want to look at a fire.

I finally got serious this year as there is a 30 percent federal tax credit with no upper limit and a $1,500 rebate from PSE.  This will pay for a third of my costs.  Great deal.

[John Livengood]

It's cool that you did this. the rebate and tax credits really do help. I think we're all anxious to see what kind of real-world savings you achieve in a year-over-year way. Thanks for the post, Paul.