Geothermal heating

Merrymeeting · 02-12-2013, 09:41 AM

I had researched much of this before and the last few posts hit the core of the issue and potential expense.

With ground source loops, you need a LOT of area. Usually this means having a lot of land, clearing a lot of trees, disturbing a lot of the land, etc. I.e., expensive. Not to mention the mentioned issue of cooling of the land mass during heavy use.

The water/well systems are a better heat source. But usually you are looking at drilling a deep well, usually separate from your potable water source. Often, depending on configuration and state/town laws, you may need a second well for discharge. Unless you have a closed loop system, clogging of the pumps and circulators can be an issue, depending on the water. With both closed and open systems, contamination of the water source is a concern. Once again, expensive.

As attractive as the potential fuel savings can be, for most, the upfront costs are usually too high and the payback too long to make it viable.

02-12-2013, 09:41 AM	#11
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,228 Thanks: 305 Thanked 802 Times in 369 Posts	I had researched much of this before and the last few posts hit the core of the issue and potential expense. With ground source loops, you need a LOT of area. Usually this means having a lot of land, clearing a lot of trees, disturbing a lot of the land, etc. I.e., expensive. Not to mention the mentioned issue of cooling of the land mass during heavy use. The water/well systems are a better heat source. But usually you are looking at drilling a deep well, usually separate from your potable water source. Often, depending on configuration and state/town laws, you may need a second well for discharge. Unless you have a closed loop system, clogging of the pumps and circulators can be an issue, depending on the water. With both closed and open systems, contamination of the water source is a concern. Once again, expensive. As attractive as the potential fuel savings can be, for most, the upfront costs are usually too high and the payback too long to make it viable.