We've had our geothermal system for 10 years now. It's been generally trouble free. This was a renovation of an old farmhouse plus an addition. It had an oil furnace before and ductwork was convoluted but our designer tweaked it to work. We've been very happy with the system. One difference has been that we rarely set the temperature back more than a few degrees, as recovery time is longer. 

I would do it again, but would also want to compare with some of the newer air to air heat pumps, both in terms of price but also performance.

We‘ve had a GSHP system since 2004 and been very pleased. We recently replaced our compressor and air handler, going with a split unit, to take advantage of the Energy Tax Credit, and to reset the 10 year warranty period.

We have hot, humid summers, which it handles great.

I think it is worthwhile asking why you want a geothermal unit. Depending on climate, it is often better to spend money on the envelope rather than on the HVAC. I am not saying geo is always a bad idea, just that it isn't always the best idea.

I have a net zero energy house with conventional ASHPs. It would still be challenging to be off grid in Dec/Jan and charge the cars. But that is true for most situations. I use about 500 kwh in Jan for heat. I think geo could save 150 of that perhaps - that is $17. My energy auditors do not give a 30% savings for geo so I am being very generous. It is usually more like 20%.

I spent $15k total on HVAC for 3800 sqft (4 years ago). And It could have been $13k but I put a ducted mini in the master suite - which I have since disabled since it didn't get cold enough for us.

Geo helps most in extreme climate conditions. Most new houses in the US are not built in extreme climates but everyone seems to think their climate is extreme. Sort of like everyone is an above average driver. If you mostly stay between 0 and 100 degrees F, then you aren't extreme from a temp standpoint. If you go below 0 a lot, then geo is very helpful. Also helpful above 100 but this occurs when solar is generating a lot.

I have concerns about geo viability in the setting of cheap solar, great ASHPs, and the expiration of tax credits. By viability, I am talking about contractors that can repair 10 and 20 years down the line. Something to consider.

You prepay your enegy costs for 30 years up front, and start having equipment breakdowns at 10. Solar is a more green option for most of the country. It still has a lot of issues with the crazy multi gabled build roof interactions that up the cost and are not thought about on the design front end. Most money is better spent on the shell, to retain the heat that you produce, ratger than an expensive way of producing the heat.

Our geothermal system is 20-yrs old and has never broken down. We do not maintain a service contract as the routine maintenance is quite easily done by oneself.

It seems that the negative feedback the OP is receiving is all second or third hand hearsay.

Geothermal is solar energy. Rather than exporting money to China for solar panels and batteries, just use the ground outside your home as your ‘battery’ that is local, renewable, resilient and virtually unlimited.

Geothermal is one of the few renewable energy sources that can be installed residentially that is available 24/7, 365 days a year whether the sun shines or not, whether it’s day or night, whether the wind blows or not or whether it’s 100˚F or -40˚F outside.

Rather than have PV solar panels, batteries, inverters etc manufactured abroad (China) and shipped around the world, hire local drilling talent and workers. The borehole dirt in your front yard will never need replacement, servicing or wear out. Like the Sun the Earth is virtually forever.

Geothermal training, methods, protocols, software and certifications have never been better or more standardized.

As the OP is building a new home, I would also suggest investigating hydronic distribution for heating, air-conditioning and Domestic Hot Water (DHW) - all using only 1-heat pump for everything!

IMPO

SR

"Geothermal is solar energy."

No grid-sourced electricity is required?

Comparing a more traditional air source heat pump to a ground source one, are you suggesting head from the ground is "renewable" and heat from air is not?

Stripping out the baloney, a ground source heat pump system is neither "solar" nor "renewable" and requires grid source electricity for much of the year, even for homes with solar panels. And, as Paper Street says, you prepay your energy costs for 30 years upfront and hope the equipment lasts long enough for a payback. Which it may or may not.

Pretty much all energy except nuclear is solar.

You can love your geothermal. But I can say with near 100% certainty that I pay less for energy than you do.

"Geothermal" as most often used is not geothermal at all. It is a Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) which just means it uses the more stable heat from the earth as a source for heat instead of using air (ASHP). This makes it more efficient but it isn't a source of energy.

True geothermal requires Iceland-like volcanic activity. Then that heat is used to actually generate electricity.

Doesn't mean GSHP doesn't have some value, but you have to admit that the name geothermal sounds a bit like marketing when you compare to true geothermal energy.

Hydronic a/c in most of the US isn't realistic. Perhaps in Canada - where GSHP is more likely to be a good idea. States that border Canada and aren't near the coast - GSHP can be a pretty good idea. Where most new construction in the US is - not usually worth it. OP hasn't given climate/location but most of that area is pretty empty - for a reason.

And much of the money/resources should go in the shell. Most wood is from Canada and the labor is US. Not sure on the source of the insulation but unlikely to be China.

Have it now- and it's "okay" - I am in same area as David-Cary. My bigger problem is dehumidification - so I should have incorporatd that in existing house. I have not found it to be an energy saver, to be honest.

New house also geothermal - not necessarily for efficiency but for the lack of outdoor units / coils - noise. I truly appreiate not having to place large noisy units anywhere around the new house.

The new GSHP also is handling all our domestic hot water needs, so we're getting double duty out of it.

Tax credit increasing so that's good. Maybe a wash - but there are less moving pieces, nothing exposed to the elements - makes for longer lasting equipment.

Agree that the envelope is a better investment.

We, also have preheating of water heater. Our electric bill was substantially lower when we got GSHP. I have no way to verify that now

"Pretty much all energy except nuclear is solar."

I agree with your comments, David Cary. Taking an overly expansive view, as bluffers and puffers like to do then sure, even burning wood becomes solar energy under an extreme view because trees convert sunshine into burnable wood.

But that isn't the meaning in general usage. "Solar" means energy captured through either photovoltaic devices OR through heat absorption - whether the heat absorption is pool water flowing through black panels on a roof or one of the massive solar thermal technology power plants as are located out in the western deserts.

So, dialing back, ground source heat transfer is NOT "solar energy".

Like any non-standard hvac system, GSHP is not available enough now to be subject to competitive pricing. This means you'll pay 3-4x what the actual cost is. Anything can be a bad choice if you make the cost way beyond the benefits. DIY is the logical answer.

Geothermal is dead simple technology.

My neighbor DIYd his geothermal. He ruined most of his back yard with exposed rocks and subsoil and ended up with one of his loops not flowing so he had to go back in and install another loop. But, he was proud of it.

DIY guy just happens to own a mini-excavator and was able to dig 7 trenches 10' deep. Good / easy clay soils. No rock. No sand.

I mean who doens't have a mini-excavator?

Shoot, Elmer, I was more trying to agree with you then it may have seemed.

GSHP is incredibly simple - no doubt. But moving land around and doing HVAC isn't commonly tied together in most of the US - so it becomes an overpriced specialty as others have said.

And - there is a big difference between horizontal and vertical.

But sure - if you have the room for horizontal, a mini excavator and the skilset needed to drive one - I am all in on geothermal. And easy soil helps. I happen to live in an area where lots are small enough that vertical is the only option. And the jurisdictions get involved because you are digging deep which is a whole other issue.

In really cold areas with really high energy costs, there is likely to be more geothermal and then it can become a more financially smart choice. Last I heard, Germany requires geothermal on new houses (absolutely not verified - but a pretty great idea given what is going on now).

My friend and I hitched a rented mini excavator to the 2" ball adapter for the 1-1/4 hitch on his Sonata. We got to play with it all day to improve drainage on the hill area above his cottage. $500 for the day. Is it possible to screw up? Always. Is it likely is the important consideration. Anything's possible. Live like that you do nothing. Do your homework and it isn't rocket surgery.

“So, dialing back, ground source heat transfer is NOT "solar energy”.”

Geothermal is ‘NOT’ Solar energy. So proclaims the Pope of Idiocy (Elmer J Fudd); let the bells peal out - The ‘Pontiff’ has spoken!

Were it not for the Sun replenishing the Earth’s surface heat and the atmosphere, this planet’s surface would be a solid ball of ice, right down to the very bottom of the Mariana Trench!

The 4 posters that have geothermal seem to like it.

It’s funny that when the dog whistle of Geothermal is mentioned how the naysayers that really know little to nothing about it suddenly all become PhD Rhodes Scholars in Economics, frightened mice at the thought or sight of a drill rig that in many cases drill 1-borehole the size of a virtual postage stamp and are gone in a day but when PV panels are mentioned - the sky is limit. No Voodoo economics there! It just all works like the Sun at night.

Geothermal has become an enduring and mature industry because of the economics not in spite of it. Developers are buying in only because it makes financial sense. Were it any other way this industry would have been long gone.

IMPO

SR

The builders who've chimed in don't agree with your baloney either, I'm not alone in that regard. Keep your insults to yourself, you're the one who tries to proclaim phony BS as being gospel.

By your definition, you yourself are solar energy too, you wouldn't be here without the sun. So, walk into any room and warm it up on your own. Just not one of my rooms, please.