My geothermal compressor just died.

[Redneck in training]

My 11 years old geo compressor shorted to the ground Thursday night and blew the breaker. My guess is new compressor would be about $3500-4000 installed and new complete unit about $6000-6500. Is my guess for 5 ton hydronic unit in ballpark? Should I buy just compressor with short warranty (probably about one year) or new unit with 10 years warranty and possibly better efficiency. I can't replace the compressor but I can install new unit. The Waterfurnace dealer will call with estimate Monday. Or while at it should I buy a better brand if there is one.
It happened in the worst time. The outside temperature just dropped to -4F and will stay there for next few days. Backup heat costs about $25/day. Oh well. It is better than frozen dead bodies.

 

[LD1]

Right now you are just guessing on prices.

Wait til you have hard numbers to compare. Also have to consider efficiency of both routes.

If indeed a new compressor is 4k and a new unit is 6k, if you get a 10y warranty vs 1, and perhaps better efficiency with 10 year newer technology, then thats 2k well spend IMO.

But 6k sounds high for just a unit. I was pricing a new geo install. climatmaster 5t stuff. price was ~$8200 and that was for everything, ground loops, manifolds, de-superheater, etc. Stuff you wont be replacing if installing a whole unit

 

[Handloader109]

Compressor should not be that high, and if you go back and look at the warranty, the compressor is usually warrantied for way less than the whole unit. I'd bet a new unit's compressor is maybe 2yrs max warranty ......

 

[davesl708]

Bummer. My Waterfurnace is 5 years old. 3F degrees this morning. Would hate to be on electric heat.

Definitely get hard numbers. If you plan to stay in the house the new unit with warranty would be my choice. The ground loop has a 50 to 150 year life.

 

[hr3]

Have you trouble shot the problem back to the compressor or are you just guessing ??? I've seen a lose connection come apart before short out maybe you could get lucky...

 

[Redneck in training]

I am afraid they have me by the b**s. There are not that many choices between installers. I would switch brands if I know which to select. There are complaints on internet about all of them.

 

[KWentling]

Is the old unit a WaterFurnace? That is what I have but it is only a little over a year old. I believe it to be one of the best brands. My warrantee is for all interior parts, labor, and a refrigerant allowance for 10 years for the original owner in a single family dwelling. I have heard replacement compressors are usually short lived, so if I couldn't get a pretty good warrantee with it I would sure lean towards a new unit. Is there a tax credit for replacement? We replaced a propane furnace and got a 30% tax credit in '14.

Kim

 

[pat32rf]

What are you paying per KWH down there? I pay .21 cents by the time we factor in taxes, etc. Lucky my geo is only 2.5 ton and we burn a lot of firewood in the airtight to supplement the five year old Geo. It draws about 2.5kw when heating via the lake loop.

 

[pappy60]

Check the prices on e bay... I have had geothermal for over 20 years and put a geothermal in my sons house 11 years that came from e bay.. a company in Florida...
Right now there is a new water furnace 5 ton unit for 3500 on it...
There are only a few companies that actually make them, so call some of the ones on e bay and talk with them..

Prices may pleasantly surprise you...

 

[truckdiagnostics]

Just went back and looked replaced compressor in our water furnace for $2400. This unit made hot water and forced air heat and cool. Talked at time about up grading to other than R22. This was 2 years ago unit 13 years old. May want to consider getting off of R22? They maybe trying to walk you into new unit with refrigerant, which is currently being made, R22 on the outs. Don't remember what water furnace went too. I had water furnace dealer install compressor, but in speaking to him and my son which is in the business, it is not a big deal. It is getting the part! After that a good refrigeration tech should be able to do it. Physically swamping them out hardest part. At those temps, don't know if my back up heat could keep up. It is heating electrical grid in the plenum, for forced air side. On the hot water side I turn the heating elements on in the hot water heaters. Doing it again, would do it different. Water furnace good stuff, however think they lock things up too much on the parts side. Looking at climate master, there dealer parts relationship seems to be looser. Between my son and I, we have it figured out we need to be able to get the parts! Have another unit which makes straight hot and cold water in the shop(water furnace), i bought used its biggest issue is I have it maxed out. It is going on 17 years never had an issue, never misses a beat!
If the numbers you gave above are accurate I would replace it.