Geothermal Heat Pump?

[UpNOver]

Hi all,
We're just starting the process of planning a new owner-built home here in Middle Tennessee, and considering a geothermal heat pump. Looking for advice on whether this would (or would not) be a good option to consider. We have had homes heated with conventional heat pumps in the past, and don't like the cool, drafty "breeze" and the noise that they put out, but we keep hearing people say that the new geothermal units are much better now. Also, how much should we put into the budget (just a "ballpark" estimate) for such a system to handle a 2600 ft. sq., two-story home?

[Ed Imeduc]

First are you going to stay in this home for a long time???
Go to http://www.amgeo.com check out a heatpump.
Now even with a geo heat pump you will have the air blowing. But Id say not as hard and it will be warmer.

Now for cost there is so much to look at you have to be there and see the job as to say the cost Like what is the ground is there rock are what. Get 3 bid for this job for sure and make sure they run a heat loss and AC load on the home.

ED ;)

[scottg]

Well I really like geo thermo heatpumps.
Ed had it right there are alot of things to think about.
Is this to be a open loop or sometimes called a pump and dump.
Or a closed loop be it horizonal or vertical wells, a slinky loop, a loop in a pond near by.
Will you also want to heat your water with the heatpump.
Do you want a variable speed blower and or a two stage compressor system.
Do you want to go with a split system or a package heatpump.
Many things to debate not to say anything about the brand.
Florida heatpump
Water Furnace
Addison
Mc Quay
Trane
Carrier
Mammouth

Check out this link to E.P.A.'s site called http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=geo_heat.pr_geo_heat_pumps
Here is a good site to educate yourself on the process.

Design the ductwork so it will really breath using tranfer grilles thru closets and make up air kits oh and don't forget air cleaning equipment too.

[Garasaki]

I'm a big advocate of geothermal heat pumps as well.

It's a tremendously efficient way to heat/cool, and it's really a lot different then air to air conventional heat pumps (which tend not to heat terribly well).

Cost of the equipment would be similar to that of any other system, the additional cost will be in your wellfield, and its impossible to estimate that cost without knowing the geology of your specific site...

What I'm saying is, there is NO WAY for us to estimate the additional cost for you....