Watched the latest episode of This Old House (PBS and other channels) and they started a brand new season in Essex MA (North of Boston) 6 acre Country house. The basement is mostly on a massive bolder. They took out the oil tank and the HVAC person mentioned drilling into the bolder for a GeoThermal system. Not sure what episode. CEH

let us know if you find out more

This was the first episode for the new project.

Bergy

I grew up one town over from Essex.

If memory serves I think we here or at Geoexchange have been assisting an Essex, Ma homeowner...could it be the same guy?

I had loosely defined plans to visit the homeowner and informally assess situation while at my home town last summer...there is an excellent fried clam place in Essex I suggested we meet.

For whatever reasons, it didn't happen...funny this should come up again!

I found the episode on the website. It's a old cottage that was unoccupied and transforming from oil to geo in an upcoming episode. http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/tv/video/0,,20665201,00.html

I'm the guy from Essex still trying to find a way to go Geo. That's not my house, but I will keep an eye on the show to see who they use. I'm halfway through the heating season with electric baseboard heat, and I'm feeling the pain. I improved my insulation in the attic and did some air sealing to get the house in better shape which seems to be making a difference. I also picked up a used wood stove insert to supplement, but it doesn't seem to be the perfect solution. I'm very close to pulling the trigger on Geo in the next month or two...

sbeausol,

Let us know which brand you go with.  It would also be helpful to know why.  I think in most cases, it strictly depends upon the lowest quote which may or may not be best in the long run.

If I haven't said it before, I suggest making all reasonable efforts to seal and insulate so as to reduce load and then revisit the question of the best way to meet the new, presumably much lower load.

i watched 20 minutes of video for 30 seconds of brief mention of Geo ...oh well

Me too Dean! Hopefully they devote a nice portion of a episode to the install, and not just a drilling rig show up them magically have supply and return lines through the wall. Of course the drilling crew will NO Issues with drilling either!!!LOL

Dan, I think you nailed how it will be.

Posted By Calladrilling on 28 Jan 2013 06:29 PM
Me too Dean! Hopefully they devote a nice portion of a episode to the install, and not just a drilling rig show up them magically have supply and return lines through the wall. Of course the drilling crew will NO Issues with drilling either!!!LOL

Yeah, that granite ledge stuff is wicked-soft, cuts just like buttah...

Well I stopped to watch a crew drilling some granite ledge, and it was like watching paint dry!
Eric

On the show this past Sat, the HVAC guy had a plan written down and he showed that the cold line would run to this cold tank and the hot line would run to this hot tank?????  What was he talking about??