Hi! I just recieved bids on a 16-18 ton system from two contractors. One contractor uses Econar while the other uses GeoComfort. Both swear by the equipment they install. The system will have horizontal lines for the heat pump. One contractor uses a slinky system while the other prefers to use the straight lines. I have heard that Econar equipment tends to be noisy and that a slinky system offers less performance than a straight line system. Iam totally unfamiliar and need some help. I will be doing this only once and hope to get it right the first time. Pleas aks if you need any additional information.

The most important component of any installation is the experience of the installer. A poor installation will make event the best equipment look bad. The same applies to the loops. We install a lot more slinky loops than straight loops not because they are better, but because they take less space. If you go straight loops, you will use less pipe, but dig more trench. Either type of loop will perform fine for you. I have slinky loops on my own house and would do the same again.

If I were you, I would make my choice based on the feedback you get from past customers of the contractors.

Good Luck

16-18 tons?

Be certain a careful load calc gets done.

Twice now I see your 16-18 ton demand. Around here that is close to 10,000sf. We talk often about references, but I would emphasize references of homes your size. Not every guy who does a good job on 2,000sf houses is capable of larger custom home installations.
J

We just had our geothermal installed up and running. We have Geocomfort R410A. It is very quiet. Sound like a fridge humming. It is so weird being quiet now without hearing the boiler running (we had oil)...Can't wait for the extreme weather to test it.

The simple solution:
1. Email both companies and request information on the sound ratings (I did not see any for Econar on their website)
2. Ask both contractors for a reference, call the reference and ask about noise

Keep in mind that "noise" is usually due to vibration. Uusally this is due to one (or a combination) of the following: poor install, excessive air flow, ducts too small or fans/blowers that are not properly balanced, or hard connections without insulation.

Alex offers good advice about noise specific questions with the provided references.
Of all the complaints I hear about geo, noise is the least common.
Don't worry about what kind of loops they use; as long as there references check out, it really doesn't matter.
J