linesoflux
New Member
Posts:2
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| 15 Aug 2012 12:43 PM |
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I live in rural NW NJ and installed a DX geothermal system (3-Ton from US Power) when I built the house (~1800 SF) 20years ago. A couple of years after the install the company went out of business so support was hit or miss. Furtunately the system worked fairly well. Well 20 years later I am starting to have issues. Had leak in the system which set me back $1500 but hey it is 20 years old. It seems to be working ok now but being concerned I had a Waterfurnace guy (who did my repair) quote me a new system. Talk about sticker shock! I paid $11K including duct work for the original system (copper in the ground-loop too!). The quote for the new 7-Series sysem was about $34K (using existing duct work)! I had figured it would be more like $16-18K now. Am I being unrealistic? Does GT cost that much now? I am going for additional quotes but was wondering about opinions on this as well as any other GT manufacturers that would be good. I used GT from the start so the house doesn't have chimney or anything. What other efficient methods are there out there as an alternative? I am going to try and milk some more life out the existing system. Just hoping it doesn't completely die this winter. Any opinions here would be appreciated. |
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jonr
Senior Member
Posts:5341
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| 15 Aug 2012 05:23 PM |
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If your leak was in the ground, then I expect that there are more to come. Unless you do something to stop corrosion - like an impressed current system. Other than that, repairing it if something breaks sounds like a good option. |
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robinnc
Advanced Member
Posts:586
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| 15 Aug 2012 10:11 PM |
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ls.....you might want to go back to Nov. and look for a thread 'Why does geo cost so much'. Allot of good info on there.
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ICFHybrid
Veteran Member
Posts:3039
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| 15 Aug 2012 10:59 PM |
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I assume you're not in a hurry to do DX again. |
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linesoflux
New Member
Posts:2
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| 16 Aug 2012 02:17 PM |
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Actually, the leak was in the compressor cabinet. I have been extremely fortunate and have had no copper corrosion (none severe enough to cause leak yet anyway). The higher cost was due to the amount of R22 needed to refill the system.
I will go look at the Novemeber posting... thanks.
Actually I'm not sure if DX is allowed in NJ anymore. I am getting conflicting reports on that. But no I would probably stay away from DX.
I know that GT costs more since I went through that on the existing system. Its just that the delta in cost wasn't anywhere near where it appears to be today. Does any have an opinion on whether this cost seems higher than normal? Is it really worth it? Are there any middle of the road alternatives?
Thanks for any and all replies... |
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sesmith
New Member
Posts:62
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| 16 Aug 2012 09:07 PM |
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In our case it was worth it. It's all relative, I guess. Look at the cost of heating with fuel oil or propane compared to 20 years ago, if you want sticker shock. Don't forget that the federal tax credit will bring your cost down another 30% after you do your taxes. Especially if you don't have access to natural gas, you should be able to figure a 5-7 year payback over oil or propane alternatives. Also, it may pay to shop around a little on installers, but more importantly, get a good one as a good installation will be way more important than the price. Ours happens to be a Climatemaster Tranquility 3 ton that we're really happy with, but I doubt if the manufacturer makes as much difference as a good designer and installation does.
You could also look into some of the new air source or mini split heat pumps, if that works for your location and house's floor plan. We didn't, but I wanted a ducted central system, and I wasn't convinced the air source units really would compare to ground source in our location.
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joe.ami
Veteran Member
Posts:4377
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| 17 Aug 2012 01:31 PM |
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Some of the modern DXs can use the old fields. Whether yours would be grandfathered in I don't know.
Original price sounds light even for 20 years ago. There is a reason many DXers went out of business, they had no idea their cost of doing business and you mentioned he was cheap then.
Curiously I've never seen a DX heat pump "cheaper" than a WTA, but I've seen new dealers who thought it was.
Those that are still in business sell water source now. |
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Joe Hardin
www.amicontracting.com
We Dig Comfort!
www.doityourselfgeothermal.com
Dig Your Own Comfort! |
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docjenser
Veteran Member
Posts:1400
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| 19 Aug 2012 09:49 AM |
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The new 7 series variable speed which has been proposed to you is very expensive, the list price for the heatpump itself is over $14k. Then you need a variable speed flow center, which is at least twice as much, and a very expensive thermostat, and this goes on and on. The holes in the ground are much deeper, too, compared to DX, costing more to install. But the system runs much more efficient and requires less maitenance . It is always the same concept, you either invest in better equipment upfront, or you have higher operational costs. |
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| www.buffalogeothermalheating.com |
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geome
Advanced Member
Posts:987
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| 19 Aug 2012 10:20 AM |
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You may want to have the installer quote the 5-Series and provide you with estimated operational cost for comparison to the 7-Series. |
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| Homeowner with WF Envision NDV038 (packaged) & NDZ026 (split), one 3000' 4 pipe closed horizontal ground loop, Prestige thermostats, desuperheaters, 85 gal. Marathon. |
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