[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Re: Ground-source heat pumps; was Re: Green real estate market

[Paul Newby]

I've been considering the merits of a GSHP vs. a masonry
heater in mid-north Ontario - the installation and operating
costs appear to be roughly comparable, but considering
longevity... well, recently I met someone who grew up in
Switzerland in a home with a masonry heater that was 450
years old.  It's interesting that we don't tend to consider
lifespan beyond a couple of decades.

Paul N.

Lawrence Lile wrote:
> All things being equal, a ground source heat pump will last about 50%
> longer than an air conditioner or an air-source heat pump, that is
> according to a client I have (a bank) that puts them in all their branch
> banks, and industry research we've done on them.  10-12 years is about
> as much as you can expect from your average air conditioner, although
> plenty of people see them last much longer.  15 years would be a good
> estimate on life of a ground source heat pump, and occasionally you may
> see one last 30.  Part of the difference is, the equipment can be
> located indoors out of the weather, and away from baseballs, hailstorms,
> kids with rocks, and so on.  
> 
>  
>  
> Lawrence Lile, P.E., LEED AP
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org
> [mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Steve
> Tripp
> Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 10:51 AM
> To: Unschooler at atlasok.com
> Cc: GREENBUILDING at listserv.repp.org
> Subject: [BULK] Re: [Greenbuilding] Ground-source heat pumps; was Re:
> Green real estate market
> Importance: Low
> 
> That is the same information I've been getting when doing my own
> research is
> that they are fairly reliable and low maintenance.  I don't know the
> backgrounds of the contractors I've talked to, but I don't think they
> are
> being willfully misleading.  So I would have to say that it is primarily
> being comfortable with heating and cooling technology they have been
> working
> with for years, and not being sure they want to get involved in this
> "untested" technology.
> 
> On 1/11/07, Leslie Moyer <Unschooler at atlasok.com> wrote:
> 
>>Steve Tripp wrote:
>>
>>>One thing I have noticed after talking to several General
> 
> Contractors
> 
>>about geothermal systems is that there is not a lot of good
> 
> information out
> 
>>there about reliability and performance.  10 years seems to be average
> 
> that
> 
>>they
>>
>>>give these systems to last before requiring major repairs.
>>
>>This just doesn't seem accurate to me--it goes against everything I've
>>heard about them. I'm not connected to the industry at all, but the
>>International Ground Source Heat Pump Association is in my state and
>>I've heard a lot about them at conferences around here....and there
> 
> are
> 
>>a lot in service around here, too. I might want to look at a motive
> 
> your
> 
>>potential contractors might have for falsifying information....or
> 
> maybe
> 
>>they're just ignorant about them.  Are there no installers in your
>>immediate area?  Does their brother-in-law do their HVAC?  Are they,
>>perhaps, talking about air-to-air heat exchangers?  Perhaps they had
> 
> one
> 
>>bad sub-contractor.  It is true that this technology hasn't been
> 
> around
> 
>>that long, but all I've heard about them is that the first
>>(experimental) ones they put in 30+ years ago are still working
>>flawlessly.
>>
>>The International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHP) is a
>>non-profit organization: http://www.igshpa.okstate.edu/ based out of
>>Oklahoma State University.  About durability, they say:
>>
>>"*How long will my GSHP system last? *
>>GSHPs are durable and highly reliable. The GSHP contains fewer
>>mechanical components, and all components are either buried in the
>>ground or located inside the home, which protects them from outside
>>conditions. The underground pipe carries up to a 50-year warranty."
>>
>>I'd pursue this further, if I were you.....
>>
>>--Leslie / Oklahoma
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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> 
> 
> 
>