geothermal questions and possible DIY

[IXLR8]

Another update for everyone.

Im gonna have some decisions to make when it comes time. Weather the extra $3500 to have them do it or not is the big dilemma right now.

Does the extra $3500 buy you any better warranty or piece of mind?? If there is an issue, can you handle it or are you going to have to call somebody?
I know for me, I could install it but I don't have the equipment or knowledge to troubleshoot if there are issues. There is a point were it is better for me to just pay the extra and know that if there are any issues... help is on the way with a phone call. Especially when I am out of town 15 days out of the month and if there are issues the wife has somebody to call.

 

[dodge man]

Do you have the time and experience? I feel I can do just about anything given the time.

I'll give an example. I rebuilt a transmission several years ago for a 70 Challenger. Pulling, putting it back in and rebuilding it took 6 weeks. I wasn't working on it for six weeks straight but I'd need a special tool, run into a problem etc. I did one for a friend a few months later and it took 2 days. My guess is this would be what your geo install would be. It would take longer than it sounds like it should but after that you would be good at it.

For my install, including the underground lines it took about a week total. I'm sure it would have taken me a lot longer. If you have the time, ability and skills, go for it.

 

[LD1]

An update to the most recent quote. I got actual numbers now as I have it in front of me.

The geo was a Bryant 2-stage puron with desuperheater. And it is $16,977. Add $600 for credit.

The air to air is a carrier 4-ton single stage. And $8700

Dodgeman: I have the time, knowledge, skill, and tools to do every part of the geo myself. But lack the experience. Knowing how the order in which to do things, knowing what is good stuff and what to avoid, sizing plumbing and manifolds, etc. That's the grey areas for me.

 

[dodge man]

Those gray areas are why you pay an expert. You just have to be the one to put a price on it.

 

[MacLawn]

Have to say, I agree with old IXL and Dodge Man. People who do it every day will surely know wha' works and wha' doesn't. It's the little things that'll bite ye sometimes.

 

[s219]

Dodgeman: I have the time, knowledge, skill, and tools to do every part of the geo myself. But lack the experience. Knowing how the order in which to do things, knowing what is good stuff and what to avoid, sizing plumbing and manifolds, etc. That's the grey areas for me.

Do you have access to someone else's install you can look at / study / copy? I would be hesitant to get into this project starting from scratch, but I'd have no concerns duplicating/upgrading/replacing the system we have now, especially after watching most of the work go on while our house was being built. The only part I'd have to sub out would be the well drilling, but in your case you have the equivalent trenching capability covered.

Even if you had a system to copy, there will be learning moments and things you would do different the next time. Question is whether you can accept that, and whether it comes with time/cost/operational risk.

 

[doxford jim]

Looking at the total cost for the install by others against the few thousand you will save doing it yourself (say $4,000), along with the amount of work involved and time to do it, it seems to be pretty much an even choice.
Pay for the install and have warranty work done (parts and labour) as part of the deal against having to do all of it yourself.
If you can afford it, it looks like having someone else do the install might be the better way to go.

 

[murphy1244]

LD, what happened to your Uncle's friend?

 

[jix]

Holy Heck!
\
All these prices scare me. There is a lotta gold to be made in Geothermal systems, it seems.

My system, open loop well, 4 ton single stage was 11,000. I did all the ducting, plumbing and wiring myself.
Well was already in, but I had to upgrade the submersible pump to 1 Hp from 1/2 (included) and I already had a waste water disposal sump in place. My system has been running for 9 years, no problems.

If I had paid for the well it would have cost me 5700 more, so the total would be 16,700, plus my labor to install the ducts plumbing and wiring. My own labor time was about 40 hours. Puts the cost at $ 18,300 plus 13% tax= 7 year payback, now complete. Free A/C in Summer, free hot water in Winter. Good decision, IMO

PS>> those prices are in Canada dollars FWIW.. back then 1 CDN dollar =93 cents US

 

[LD1]

I do have a system I can look at. Its at a relatives house, but doesnt reveal anything that I dont already know. All the ducting was closed off, and the manifold system is outside burried in the ground. Those are my two biggest concerns.

LD, what happened to your Uncle's friend?

We got that cold snap and he got busy with service calls. Then this week with the holidays and my work schedule, we just havent had time to meet up.

I told him it was no hurry though. I dont plan on doing anything for at least 6 months, so if he has more important things to do, chatting with me can wait.