I am located in Northern Ontario(Hearst). Very cold winters. I am located on a lake and planning to build a house this fall. ICF or ICF/SIP. My two guestions are does anyone know of installers in the area or someone willing to make the trip and do the install. The nearest dealer/installer i found is 4hrs away. I am willing and able to do alot of the work my self so if there is a dealer that can lay out some plans for me to follow that is an option. The price I have so far is $26000 without duckwork.(It seems high to me) 2nd question. Since I am building such a well insulated home could I save a ton of cash and labour and just in stall a pellet stove in the basement. I will be in this house long term so initial cost upfront is ok. 1800sq foot walkout basement, plus main floor and 400sq foot open loft.  Hope this is not to long winded. Any dealers or installers willing to make the trip (fishing is good lol) please contact me. Thank you and great forum by the may.

Dave

Maybe… My 1st question is what kind of loop are you planning, vertical or horizontal? Can you find a well driller in your area that installs geothermal ground loops; or, is the topsoil deep enough to be bulldozed, backhoed or chaintrenched for a horizontal loop? Who’s going to do the ductwork or are you planning radiant in-floor heating? Looking at a map, I can’t imagine that cooling is a big requirement…

SR

Hi, since i am on a lake is would think my most cost effective loop would be in the water. I have a big lot but at the moment the area for a ground loop is occupied by driveway,garage and septic be. Although winters are longer and colder than I would like we do get 35-38 or 90+ degree weather sometimes for a long peroid of time so from June until Sept ac is important. My only other heating alternative i am considering is an outdoor wood furnace. I could do that system for about $10-$12k but off course no ac. I can get wood for about $1000 per transport load which would last more than a year, but I am not sure I want to cut and pile wood when I retire.

Dave,

Can you tell us how big is the lake, how deep is the lake, and what temperature would the lake be at the depth where you plan to place the geothermal coils?  A shallow lake might freeze too deep to offer much heat in the winter.

Alton,

The lake is about a mile across. I am at the mouth of a river that leads to several other lakes. I am not sure what the temp would be through out the year but my water line does not freeze and I would be putting the loop in deeper water. The installer i spoke with said there would be no problems as far as that goes. A second opinion would certainly help. tks.

Dave