geothermal

heehaw · Sep 22, 2009

don't fool yourself into thinking these systems are quiet: the only thing that is not running compared to a normal system is the little 1/4hp fan: the compressor is still running an that seems to be where the majority of the noise comes from. some systems muffle the compressor noise better than others: with the normal system the compressor is in an open package with no way to muzzle the sound: the geothermal compressor is in an enclosed box that uses lots of sound deadening padding. also you will usually have a smaller compressor with the geothermal system, which natually makes the noise level lower. water contains air, in a closed loop system, you pump that water around an around an around, an some of the air separates, so the system can become "air locked" an have to be burped: i've never seen or heard of a closed system that doesn't pressurize the water? but that sounds like that would solve the problem of having to have a system "burped".
heehaw

ShaleniFarm · Sep 22, 2009

Anyone want a free Carrier geothermal unit?

Send me a PM...

buckeyefarmer · Sep 22, 2009

B & D MFG., Inc. Home

They own the patent on non pressurized flow centers. As long as you keep the water at the proper level, no air enters, and it purges air as it operates. Some people put their header inside, with valves on each loop, then you can flush and purge with just the flow pump, without using a flush cart.
Non pressurized seems is getting very popular due to a lot less service callbacks because of air.

traders · Oct 2, 2009

Here is another company that produces low pressure geothermal systems. They are very easy to self install if you have good diy skills. 30% federal tax credits apply for present. some states also have tax credits available. That makes geoexchange systems costs almost match an air to air heat pump. Geothermal will save you a great deal of money for years to come.

www.arit.com

Take a look.

traders

buckeyefarmer · Oct 4, 2009

traders said:
Here is another company that produces low pressure geothermal systems. They are very easy to self install if you have good diy skills. 30% federal tax credits apply for present. some states also have tax credits available. That makes geoexchange systems costs almost match an air to air heat pump. Geothermal will save you a great deal of money for years to come.
.

traders

According to their web site you get a "fluid control Center" and "loops and header pipes prefilled with BioGlycol". The also state they do not furnish Geothermal heat pumps.
They also state that they use "double locking compression fittings" with "no requirement for expensive fusion welding".

There's no way to install a "prefilled" loop per IGSHPA recommendations. IGSPHA requires all buried connections to be heat fused, which isn't all that expensive by the way. I'm not sure what BioGlycol is, don't see that one in the IGSHPA manual either.

whistlepig · Oct 4, 2009

What little energy geothermal uses is electric. We had fuel oil where we used to live. Even with the heat and A/C our electric is cheaper here than where we used to live. And this house is twice the size. Granted this house is newer and much better insulated. For us we can heat and cool this house cheaper that we could just run the lights and TV at our old place. It is that much of a difference. You can shop for any kind of furnace you want. Efficiencies to 99.9%. Geothermal is 300% efficient.

whistlepig · Oct 4, 2009

heehaw said:
don't fool yourself into thinking these systems are quiet: the only thing that is not running compared to a normal system is the little 1/4hp fan: the compressor is still running an that seems to be where the majority of the noise comes from. some systems muffle the compressor noise better than others: with the normal system the compressor is in an open package with no way to muzzle the sound: the geothermal compressor is in an enclosed box that uses lots of sound deadening padding. also you will usually have a smaller compressor with the geothermal system, which natually makes the noise level lower. water contains air, in a closed loop system, you pump that water around an around an around, an some of the air separates, so the system can become "air locked" an have to be burped: i've never seen or heard of a closed system that doesn't pressurize the water? but that sounds like that would solve the problem of having to have a system "burped".
heehaw

Ours is a closed loop system. No water. It's not quiet but not noisy either. We can hear both the heat and A/C kick in or off. We had our system "burped" last fall as part of the normal yearly service. We haven't had any trouble with it. Maintenance free except for changing filters.

heehaw · Oct 5, 2009

compressors are just not really quiet when they run: but i admit there is a big difference between equipment: some are considerably quieter than others: same with the air handlers, some of the blowers will sound like a plane taking off when they kick on, others you will hardly notice.
heehaw

buckeyefarmer · Oct 5, 2009

Geothermal is the real deal when done right, but it's got to be done right per IGSHPA standards. I'm not to sure about the stuff that "traders" was pushing. The geothermal compressors is the same used in heat pumps and AC units, except now it is usually indoors in a box instead of outdoors in a box, so noise insulation is very important.

One of these days i'll get mine installed.