Good day all,

We are getting ready to have a Geo system quoted to replace our aging Propane furnace.  What information (paperwork) should I have available for the contractors and any good questions to ask while they are here?

Thanks all

The best thing you can do is write down your questions so that you can cover them while you have a company rep in front of you.
Always follow up on references and visit a site if you are able. That will give you an idea of what's involved in the installation and how well your contractor coordinates these things.
We do quite a bit of follow up by e-mail as questions arise, but we also have a preliminary installation/operating cost service on our web site to give folks a ball park of what to expect (that tends to save me the trouble of driving somewhere to find out they have a $5,000 budget for a 4 ton vertical system:)
I like to include refrences from customers where something may have gone wrong during or after their installations. This avoids the pretension that we are all perfect all the time and let's you get a glimpse of how we behave when the chips are down. I think that is the real measure of a company.
Good Luck,
J

And make sure they do a manual J load calculation

I'd be interested in the questions the contractor asks me. Are they seeking to understand your initial expectations, assess the feasibility of those expectations, bring them into focus through some basic education, offer you a system w/options to meet those updated expectations, and clarify your understanding of what your going to get? A simple "Gwiz, what led you to consider a geothermal system for your home?" should generate a response that would give the contractor a good idea of your level of understanding. Of 5 GSHP contractors I've spoken with, not one asked that kind of question.

Some other questions for you to ask:
1. How long have they been installing geothermal systems?
2. Do they do it all in-house? If not, what part is subcontracted? How is sub work warranted?
3. How is the system tested and commissioned?
4. What documentation is provided?
5. What is their policy on safety and quality control?
6. Since this work takes place in an existing home, I would like to know their policy on protecting property and site cleanup, both during and upon completion of the work.
7. How is the estimate presented? If you're looking several estimate, you need to decide if you're ok with comparing a single lump sum dollar amount or if you wish to have the estimate broken out into subtotals. There are a couple of threads that address this issue.

Good luck, Dave

gwiz,

If you know R-values of ceilings, walls, and foundation of your house, have them handy for your contractor. If you used a regular fuel (natural gas, oil, propane) for heat and you know the annual or seasonal amount, that may also be useful.

For good questions to ask, they depend on the type of system(s) you're considering: DX, open loop, or closed loop. I agree with all that Joe and Farmboy said. In general I would ask:

1- What will I get? ... the outside part: loops, wells, pumps; and the inside part: heat pump(s), ducts if any (with or without insulation, zones) desuperheatr, hot water tanks (same brands vary in insulation), electrical system upgrade, thermostat(s). Thermostats are the bridge between homeowner and the heat pump. Select one that you're comfortable with, though they are easy to replace and not too expensive.

2- What should I expect? ... comfort, cost savings, maintenance, if any.

3- What are the warranties?

4- When will work start and finish?

5- What can I expect in an emergency?

6- Would you please brief me on permits and inspections?

7- If I were getting a closed loop and had concerns about a min entering water temp, I would discuss my thoughts now.

8- Are there any discounts for...? A contractor offered me a 5% discount for having the company sign on front of my house for 90 days.

9- Are there any recommendation I should consider? ... e.g. air cleaners, humidifiers, dehumidifiers.



Regards, Masoud