My wife and I (newer owners of a Minnesota based rambler on a walkout basement) are considering moving away from our geothermal unless we can figure out solutions. Is our Econar simply a lemon or is geothermal simply too expensive and inefficient for Minnesota winters? Last month, our electric bill was an astonishing $900+, and I was unable to get the heat to stay at 69 degrees most of the time despite aux being turned on. The temp outside averaged 25 degrees, which is not abnormal. As of today, I cannot get the heat above 64 degrees, and I have little kids in the home requiring the use of space heaters. Background: My wife and I bought a home with a Econar GeoSource Vara 2 Plus vertical unit previously installed in 2007 for $22,000. We bought the home in 2016 with 1 year left on the warranty. It was installed by S&B Geothermal. The home is 4,900 square feet including a walkout basement and side room. The Econar system is VERY LOUD and VERY EXPENSIVE to run. I called S&B Geothermal within the warranty period but the HVAC tech was not helpful and tried to reassure me our high electric bills were normal and that systems like this one are LOUD. By loud, I mean it is the loudest furnace I have ever heard in a residential home. We also experienced repeat instances of the drainage tube plugging up resulting in minor water build up on the floor around the furnace in the summer months. The tech said all was well. Now, we are outside the warranty. Does anyone have feedback on Econar's treatment of warranties; and whether Econar is a reputable company? Are there other companies that might be better suited for replacement or other technology?

Why do you 'not' post on the 'geo' forum??

It seems you would serve yourself well to get a thermal imaging camera (imo).

We have an ICF house (approx 6k sq ft including basement) in central PA w/geo heat pump (climatemaster) and it is very quiet and our electric bill (for everything) runs an average of $130-$140 per month. last year I think it might have gotten up to the low $200's during the very cold spell we had, but I don't know what the breakdown is for how much was the heat pump vs everything else.

anyway, i'm no expert, but I'd bet money that *something* is either wrong with the unit or there is a big leak somewhere in the house.

In Michigan the changed the rate structure years ago and Geo became not worth it. We used to get 1/4 cost electric in the winter off peak and now that cheap cost was moved to summer time. Winter is pretty much full price electric.

I have geo and natural gas and can heat my house with either and have ran it both ways. It is almost 30% cheaper to heat with natural gas for me.

Good luck.