Geo Thermal AC - TexasBowhunter.com Community Discussion Forums

Bort · 02-26-2020, 09:20 PM

Does anybody have any experience with a geo thermal ac system? They cost about 1.5x more to install, but supposedly they last longer, require less maintenance, and cost less to use. I love a cool house in the summer, but hate paying for it. Thoughts?

Lungbustr · 02-26-2020, 09:44 PM

Seems like it would be a heck of a lot more expensive than 1.5x a standard ac.

dagdog · 02-26-2020, 09:53 PM

Been there, done that. Had geothermal heat and A/C in a 3500 sq ft house. Heat sink was out under the front yard. My heating and cooling bill was not noticeably different as a result. We did not have the system installed, it came with the house.

Are you building new? If so then foam the house and do all the other tricks to increase its effectiveness and then maybe you can see a difference in your bill. I think you are better off with high efficiency A/C units combined with foam and good windows. Less expensive and not so long to recover your upfront cost.

Bort · 02-27-2020, 12:36 PM

Thanks

Briar Friar · 02-27-2020, 12:53 PM

My neighbor is a well driller and he also drills holes for installs on these. I asked him about drilling and piping hot water but he said the systems don’t have to have hot water ground water. Apparently the majority of the cost is drilling all the holes necessary and setting all the pipes in the ground necessary to conduct the thermal balance/imbalance from the soil into the living areas. It’s similar to a heat pump system in the fact that it’s based around moderating slightly above or slightly below 70°F...year round.

Good luck Bort.

Briar Friar · 02-27-2020, 01:29 PM

I can have an entire new electric or gas system installed for 10-12k. Realistically I cant see hiring out for a geo thermal system being installed for less than 30k.

Kelmat · 02-27-2020, 01:38 PM

Deal with them quite a bit on the commercial side. Wouldn't recommend for residential. Compressors run for heating and cooling. A new conventional system will be just as efficient, assuming you have natural gas for heating. If not I would go with a air to air heat pump.

elliscountyhog · 02-27-2020, 04:37 PM

Foam the house and do a complete variable speed system. Best thing you can do. Trane or Lennox.

02-26-2020, 09:20 PM	#1
Bort Eight Point Join Date: Nov 2013	Geo Thermal AC Does anybody have any experience with a geo thermal ac system? They cost about 1.5x more to install, but supposedly they last longer, require less maintenance, and cost less to use. I love a cool house in the summer, but hate paying for it. Thoughts?

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02-26-2020, 09:44 PM	#2
Lungbustr Pope & Young Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Texas	Seems like it would be a heck of a lot more expensive than 1.5x a standard ac.

02-26-2020, 09:53 PM	#3
dagdog Six Point Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Keller Hunt In: Haskell county	Been there, done that. Had geothermal heat and A/C in a 3500 sq ft house. Heat sink was out under the front yard. My heating and cooling bill was not noticeably different as a result. We did not have the system installed, it came with the house. Are you building new? If so then foam the house and do all the other tricks to increase its effectiveness and then maybe you can see a difference in your bill. I think you are better off with high efficiency A/C units combined with foam and good windows. Less expensive and not so long to recover your upfront cost.

02-27-2020, 12:36 PM	#4
Bort Eight Point Join Date: Nov 2013	Thanks

02-27-2020, 12:53 PM	#5
Briar Friar Ten Point Join Date: May 2015	My neighbor is a well driller and he also drills holes for installs on these. I asked him about drilling and piping hot water but he said the systems don’t have to have hot water ground water. Apparently the majority of the cost is drilling all the holes necessary and setting all the pipes in the ground necessary to conduct the thermal balance/imbalance from the soil into the living areas. It’s similar to a heat pump system in the fact that it’s based around moderating slightly above or slightly below 70°F...year round. Good luck Bort.

02-27-2020, 01:29 PM	#6
Briar Friar Ten Point Join Date: May 2015	I can have an entire new electric or gas system installed for 10-12k. Realistically I cant see hiring out for a geo thermal system being installed for less than 30k.

02-27-2020, 01:38 PM	#7
Kelmat Four Point Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Spring Hunt In: Shelby county	Deal with them quite a bit on the commercial side. Wouldn't recommend for residential. Compressors run for heating and cooling. A new conventional system will be just as efficient, assuming you have natural gas for heating. If not I would go with a air to air heat pump.

02-27-2020, 04:37 PM	#8
elliscountyhog Pope & Young Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ennis,Tx Hunt In: WG Outdoors on Facebook	Foam the house and do a complete variable speed system. Best thing you can do. Trane or Lennox.