Great forum! I am looking for GHP resources in the Philadelphia region. I am interested in feasibility evaluations for 6 buildings ranging from a single family home to a 23-unit apartment building. My first concern is finding someone qualified and conscientious enough to do good load calcs. Beyond that, I can GC or sub the jobs complete. Designers? Installers? Drillers? Buildings are located 20 minutes west of Philadelphia in a built out area (vertical drilling). Can anyone point me toward experienced, quality-oriented people? Thanks for any referrals. I can be reached at: eh5373 at verizon dot net.

I don't know any of these guys,  but here is a list

David Powell	Edward Powell Pump & Well Drilling	17-B Mount Pleasant Dr.	Aston	PA	19014		610-459-1098
Michael Caiazzo	Caiazzo's Heating & A/C	PO Box 658	Bangor	PA	18013		610-588-8790
Michael Nakonechny		127 Pheasant Circle	Barto	PA	19504		610-754-7704	[email protected]
Kenneth Kerr	Kellco Construction	PO Box 423	Bartonsville	PA	18321		570-629-3134	[email protected]
Jason Kocher	Kocher's Water Pumps & Tanks, Inc.	2786 W. Beersville Rd.	Bath	PA	18014		610-837-8226		www.jakekocher.com
Randy Wyllie	Innovative Building & Design, Inc.	471 Distillery Hill Rd.	Benton	PA	17814		570-925-2077
Jeremey Dugan	Pennswood Village	1216 Oriole Dr.	Besalem	PA	19020		215-519-2173
Adrian Orner		PO Box 311	Blanchard	PA	16826		570-962-6419
Raymond Harbaugh, II	Harbaugh's HVAC/Refrigeration, Inc.	PO Box 458	Blue Ridge Summit	PA	17214		717-794-2556	[email protected]	www.harbaughshvac.com
John Rainey	Powell Drilling & Services, Inc.	4051 Naaman's Creek Rd.	Boothwyn	PA	19061		610-485-6794	[email protected]
Craig Geier	Geirs Air Works	2907 Bancroft Ave.	Bristol	PA	19007		215-826-0865	[email protected]	www.geiersairworks.com
Thomas Spall	T. E. Spall & Son, Inc.	58 Hospital St.	Carbondale	PA	18407		570-282-3000	[email protected]	www.thecomfortdoctors.com
Robert Berkhimer	G. F. Bowman, Inc.	201 W. Penn Ave.	Cleona	PA	17042		717-278-8519	[email protected]	www.gfbowman.com
Bradley Bowman	G. F. Bowman, Inc.	201 W. Penn Ave.	Cleona	PA	17042		717-273-8519	[email protected]	www.gfbowman.com
Mike Filer	Tri-County Rural Electric Coop., Inc.	16 Damascas Rd.	Coudersport	PA	16915		814-274-8740	[email protected]	www.ctenterprises.org
Todd Dillan	Dillan Well Drilling, Inc.	3540 Darlington Rd.	Darlington	PA	16115		724-827-2990
Gene Cope, Jr.	Dillan Well Drilling, Inc.	3540 Darlington Rd.	Darlington	PA	16115		724-827-2990
Fred Martin	Sensenig & Weaver Well Drilling	1439 Dry Tavern Rd.	Denver	PA	17517		717-445-5573
Michael Rash	Morrison, Inc.	63 Gambers Corner Rd.	Duncannon	PA	17020		717-834-5667	[email protected]
Paul Moser, Jr.	Mayer's Well Drill	1100 Soffa Rd.	East Greenville	PA	18041		215-679-8621
Kenneth Kerstner	Kerstner Well & Pump Svc.	3787 Fleetwood Dr.	Easton	PA	18045		610-252-5155
William Reith	Reith Brothers, Inc.	5719 Emmaus Rd.	Emmaus	PA	18049		610-965-5692	[email protected]
Frank Reith	Reith Brothers, Inc.	5719 Emmaus Rd.	Emmaus	PA	18049		610-965-5692	[email protected]
Mark Reith	Reith Brothers, Inc.	5719 Emmaus Rd.	Emmaus	PA	18049		610-965-5692	[email protected]
Paul Wallhofer	Reith Brothers, Inc.	5719 Emmaus Rd.	Emmaus	PA	18049		610-965-5692	[email protected]
Stanley Egan	Willis Ide & Son	145 Lincoln St.	Exeter	PA	18643		570-477-2493
Owen Rosensteel	Rosensteel Sheet Metal	63 Mile Trail	Fairfield	PA	17320		717-642-5038	[email protected]
Randall Alexander	Alexander's Well Drilling	PO Box 443	Fairfield	PA	17320		717-642-5963
Dustin Alexander	Alexander's Well Drilling	PO Box 443	Fairfield	PA	17320		717-642-5963
Robert Immel	B. L. Myers Brothers of PA, Inc.	PO Box 490	Glenmoore	PA	19343		610-942-2030	[email protected]	www.blmyers.com
William Winder	Sunburst Energy Systems, Inc.	3 Limekiln Pike	Glenside	PA	19038		215-886-0860	[email protected]	www.sunburstenergy.com
Christopher Vinal	Sunburst Energy Systems, Inc.	3 Limekiln Pike	Glenside	PA	19038		215-886-0884	[email protected]	www.sunburstenergy.com
Jeff Elston	Sunburst Energy Systems, Inc.	3 Limekiln Pike	Glenside	PA	19038		215-886-0884	[email protected]	www.sunburstenergy.com
Carl Bastian	B & B Geothermal Energy, Inc.	PO Box 196	Gwynedd	PA	19436		877-699-5192	[email protected]	www.bbgeothermal.com
Jeffrey Fitser	B & R Construction Services, Inc.	7045 Blue Ridge Ave.	Harrisburg	PA	17112		717-652-3059	[email protected]
Ned Wehler	Arm Group, Inc.	1129 W. Governor Rd., Box 797	Hershey	PA	17033		717-533-8600	[email protected]	www.armgroup.net
Michael Gallelli	Gallelli Mechanical	144 Rocksville Rd.	Holland	PA	18966		215-752-3106
Robert Budd	Budd's Plumbing & HVAC	23 Fortenia Heights	Honesdale	PA	18431		570-253-4640	[email protected]
Daniel Hardy	Daniel L. Hardy Heating & A/C Contractor	146 Cherry Run Rd.	Howard	PA	16841		570-726-4430	[email protected]
Douglas Ide	Willis Ide & Son	129 Croop Rd.	Hunlock Creek	PA	18621		570-477-2493
Philip Rooke	Geothermal Environment LLC	131 Arrowhead Lane	Irwin	PA	15642		724-382-1503	[email protected]	www.geothermalenvironment.com
William Sinton	Sinton A/C & Heating, Inc.	PO Box 1011	Kennett Square	PA	19348		610-444-6002	[email protected]	www.sintonair.com
Scott Lehman	Sinton A/C & Heating, Inc.	PO Box 1011	Kennett Square	PA	19348		610-444-6002	[email protected]	www.sintonair.com
John Eckhart	J & J HVAC & Refrigeration	319 W. Ridge St.	Lansford	PA	18235		570-645-9980	[email protected]	www.jjhvac.com
David Wetzel	Eichelbergers, Inc.	107 Texaco Rd.	Mechanicsburg	PA	17055		717-766-4800		www.eichelbergers.com
Toby Kessler	Gilmore & Assoc.	350 E. Butler Ave.	New Britain	PA	18901		215-345-4330	[email protected]	www.gilmore-assoc.com
Elmer Stewart, Jr.	Stewart Well Drilling	781 Dean Rd.	New Castle	PA	16101		724-658-4488	[email protected]	www.stewartwelldrilling.com
John Hagan, III	Hagan Home Building Group	6484 Middleton Ln.	New Hope	PA	18938		215-378-2001	[email protected]
Neil Negley	Negley's Well Drilling, Inc.	16199 Cumberland Hwy.	Newburg	PA	17240		717-532-9190	[email protected]	www.negleys.net
Dustin Negley	Negley's Well Drilling, Inc.	16199 Cumberland Hwy.	Newburg	PA	17240		717-532-9190	[email protected]	www.negleys.net
Andrew Brletrick	Kupetz's Plumbing & Heating	4517 Crawford Ave..	Northern Cambria	PA	15714		814-948-6460
Gary Eschenburg	Ground Source Contractors, Inc.	1418 School House Rd.	Perkasie	PA	18944		215-257-4797	[email protected]	www.gscgeo.com
Justin Eschenburg	Ground Source Contractors, Inc.	1418 School House Rd.	Perkasie	PA	18944		215-453-1170
Lee Smith	W F Smith, Inc.	7310 State Rd.	Philadelphia	PA	19136		215-624-1313	[email protected]
Jeffrey Ford	Allegheny Mountain Water Systems	3733 Rt. 155	Port Allegany	PA	16743		814-642-9283	[email protected]	www.amwswater.com
Lora Ford	Allegheny Mountain Water Systems	3733 Rt. 155	Port Allegany	PA	16743		814-642-9283	[email protected]	www.amwswater.com
Robert Nobel	RJN Contracting, Inc.	496 Covered Bridge Rd.	Quakertown	PA	15642		724-382-1503	[email protected]	www.geothermalenvironment.com
Christopher Myers	Myers Brothers Well Drilling	54 Holland St.	Salunga	PA	17538		717-898-2321
Darwin Burtner	Western Pennsylvania Geothermal Heating & Cooling, Inc.	725 Saxonburg Blvd., Ste. 4 Ivy Wood Village	Saxonburg	PA	16056		724-352-3113	[email protected]	www.wpghci.com
Steven Eaton	S J Eaton Plumbing & Heating	485 Penns Dr.	Selinsgrove	PA	17870		570-374-0652	[email protected]
Lon Bergey	Bergey's Heating & Cooling	1605 Old Rt. 309	Sellersville	PA	18960		215-257-7050
William Bergey	Bergey's Heating & Cooling Ltd.	1605 Old Rt. 309	Sellersville	PA	18960		215-257-7050		www.bhcltd.com
John Zdon	Bergey's Heating & Cooling Ltd.	1605 Old Rt. 309	Sellersville	PA	18960		215-257-7050	[email protected]	www.bhcltd.com
Stoney Rice	Affiliated Energy Products, Inc. - Geothermal	9550 Somerset Pike, Ste.100	Somerset	PA	15501		814-443-6796	[email protected]	www.aepcor.com
Dave Feyock	Somerset Rural Electric Co-op, Inc.	PO Box 270	Somerset	PA	15501		814-445-4106 x246	[email protected]	www.somersetrec.com
Jan Anthony	Jan V. Anthony, Inc.	1021 Delaum Rd.	St. Marys	PA	15857		814-834-3231	[email protected]
Calvin Pierce	Calvin D. Pierce Heating & Cooling	536 Brittany Dr.	State College	PA	16803		814-234-8366	[email protected]
Dean Hilliard	A C & R. Services, Inc.	217 Turkey Path Rd.	Sugarloaf	PA	18249		570-788-2427	[email protected]	www.acrsvc.com
Daniel Burkhart		4387 W. Mountain View Dr.	Walnutport	PA	18088		610-767-6513	[email protected]
Russell Buehler	F E Buehler & Son, Inc.	1303 Easton Rd.	Warrington	PA	18976		215-343-0550	[email protected]
Jesse Crouse	J. W. Crouse, Inc.	306 Beechwood Rd.	West Chester	PA	19382		610-430-3618		[email protected]
Scott Carlisle	S. A. Carlisle HVAC, Inc.	3023 N. 2nd St.	Whitehall	PA	18052		610-266-0796	[email protected]
David Hepler	Hepler Air, Inc.	1715 Clarion Dr.	Williamsport	PA	17701		570-323-3335	[email protected]
David Harnish	J. K. Mechanical	202 W. Kendig Rd.	Willow Street	PA	17584		717-464-0111	[email protected]	www.jkmechanical.com

For EarthLinked DX, you could try
Harry Morgan
[email protected]
Tel: 610-406-3673
Fax: 610-944-3049
23 Valley View Ct.
Fleetwood, PA 19522

Grasso Air Conditioning & Heating

916 Elwood Rd
Hammonton, NJ 08037 Map

• (609) 561-0002

These are the guys I use in my area and recommend, but they only do Open Loop systems. they are also a smaller outfit, anything residential fine, but I'm not so sure about an apartment building.  

With all due respect to the other posters, I believe their information is erroneous!

NB: - PLEASE NOTE WELL!!

If you are planning a 23-unit apartment building - you need to hire a IGSHPA ‘Certified GeoExchange Designer’ (of which the is only one in Pennsylvania ) – NOT an accredited geothermal installer! (Sorry guys)

Here’s his link:

http://www.harbaughshvac.com/certified_geoexchange_designer.htm


Caveat Emptor!

IMO

SR

Let me just point out that IGSHPA is not required for EarthLinked DX geothermal systems. That does not mean you shouldn't involve an engineer. I agree that it should be designed properly, but it's not rocket science, like IGSHPA makes it seem to be. At least, EarthLinked DX isn't.

Because of the pre-engineered loop design, an IGSHPA 'certified geoexchange designer' is somewhat a useless title/occupation when it comes to EarthLinked DX. I'm pretty sure that's why IGSHPA doesn't want to acknowledge that EarthLinked DX (or any type of DX) geoexchange works, and is a better, viable option for most any home.

I am sorry to say but this is simply not true.  I have installed geothermal systems on over 30 schools and commercial buildings that have been designed  by mechanical engineers who are  not and never will be  IGSHPA CDGs.

While it is true that certified installers may not be qualified to design a commercial building,  to say that only one person in the state is qualified is a real disservice to someone seeking advice.

I have been to the IGSHPA  classes and the curriculum is sorely lacking.  A person could be a CGD and still not be qualifed to do a well designed system.

Re geodean:

Your earlier post’s reference is to IGSHPA accredited installers. As you have said, “I have been to the IGSHPA classes and the curriculum is sorely lacking.” This is precisely why an IGSHPA accredited installer may have insufficient knowledge to design and install a GSHP system for a 23-unit apartment building. The difference, hence value, between an IGSHPA accredited installer and an IGSHPA Certified GeoExchange Designer is like the difference between a high school diploma and a university degree. I say this in comparative terms only, not to diminish in any way the importance or value of the IGSHPA accredited installer.

I will concede that one could hire a mechanical engineering firm. Personally, for a project that size, I would recommend seeking out one that specializes in commercial, institutional and industrial geothermal design – with a serious pedigree.

Re tuffluck:

While I am a big proponent of DX in residential and small commercial applications, it may not be the best choice in a project such as a 23-unit apartment building, which may be borderline in terms of size and scope . Yes it could work - but it may also be fraught with risk. What software would you use to model the effects on the ground ten years out?

Greater efficiency and long term reliability would most probably be best achieved with a properly designed liquid ground loop – properly modeled with an ‘in-situ’ test borehole to determine definitively ground conductivity and other properties if vertical ground loops were to be used.

The point of my suggestions is to ameliorate risk; I respect and enjoy yours as well.

SR