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Geothermal Operating Costs kswine 09-08-2006
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Posted by kswine on September 8, 2006, 1:58 pm
I see a lot of discussion on geothermal systems. After owning a Water
Furnace brand for six years we are not yet breaking even on if we had
purchased a gas/electric HVAC instead. Our Water Furnace went off of
its five year warrantee two years ago and since then it has cost us an
extensive amount in repairs and keeps having more problems. The DHW
hot water line is no longer functional and can't be repaired, the main
circuit board had to be replaced, the thermostat had to be replaced
twice, the freon lines had to be replaced and the coils are corroded.
Considering that it cost three times as much as conventional HVAC and,
at its current failure rate, we will probably have to replace it in a
couple of years, I am not sure that the Water Furnace is the way to go.
Especially with higher efficiency HVACs coming on the market. Also,
Water Furnace customer service is not very customer oriented and the
parts take forever to get. When it worked well it was very efficient so
the technology and conept are sound. If only there were a more
reliable unit.


Posted by Al Moran on September 8, 2006, 9:55 pm

>I see a lot of discussion on geothermal systems. After owning a Water
>Furnace brand for six years we are not yet breaking even on if we had
>purchased a gas/electric HVAC instead. Our Water Furnace went off of
>its five year warrantee two years ago and since then it has cost us an
>extensive amount in repairs and keeps having more problems. The DHW
>hot water line is no longer functional and can't be repaired, the main
>circuit board had to be replaced, the thermostat had to be replaced
>twice, the freon lines had to be replaced and the coils are corroded.
>Considering that it cost three times as much as conventional HVAC and,
>at its current failure rate, we will probably have to replace it in a
>couple of years, I am not sure that the Water Furnace is the way to go.
> Especially with higher efficiency HVACs coming on the market. Also,
>Water Furnace customer service is not very customer oriented and the
>parts take forever to get. When it worked well it was very efficient so
>the technology and conept are sound. If only there were a more
>reliable unit.


So let me see if I understand. This Water Furnace has given you
nothing but problems yet you are not sure whether to get another one?
Here's your sign!

Posted by Nathan W. Collier on September 8, 2006, 10:28 pm
> I am not sure that the Water Furnace is the way to go.
> Especially with higher efficiency HVACs coming on the market.

ground source benefits rural customers (that have to pay extra to have
propane hauled in) most. ground source is very common in montana due to the
vast rural areas.



> When it worked well it was very efficient so
> the technology and conept are sound. If only there were a more
> reliable unit.

as ground source units go, there is no better brand than water furnace. in
fact, nothing comes even close. you can spend half as much (up front,
anyway) on an econar, FHP, etc. and you end up with crap that will most
certainly give you failure after failure after failure. if youre going
ground source, go water furnace.

with all the failures you mentioned, did you do any research first on the
company that installed it? were their technicians certified through water
furnace?

--
Nathan W. Collier
http://UtilityOffRoad.com
http://7SlotGrille.com
http://InlineDiesel.com
http://BighornRefrigeration.com
http://ConcealedCarryForum.com
http://1911Carry.com
http://GlockCarry.com



Posted by PrecisionMachinisT on September 9, 2006, 12:26 am

> > I am not sure that the Water Furnace is the way to go.
> > Especially with higher efficiency HVACs coming on the market.
>
> ground source benefits rural customers (that have to pay extra to have
> propane hauled in) most. ground source is very common in montana due to
the
> vast rural areas.
>
>
>
> > When it worked well it was very efficient so
> > the technology and conept are sound. If only there were a more
> > reliable unit.
>
> as ground source units go, there is no better brand than water furnace.
in
> fact, nothing comes even close. you can spend half as much (up front,
> anyway) on an econar, FHP, etc. and you end up with crap that will most
> certainly give you failure after failure after failure. if youre going
> ground source, go water furnace.
>
> with all the failures you mentioned, did you do any research first on the
> company that installed it? were their technicians certified through water
> furnace?
>

I say keep it simple...FWIW my circa 1986 FHP is still going gangbusters.

Major install cost above any other system lies in the geo loop anyways.

--

SVL




Posted by Nathan W. Collier on September 9, 2006, 1:16 pm
> FWIW my circa 1986 FHP is still going gangbusters.

id say youve been lucky.....then again you most likely maintain your system
better than most do. FHP is certainly a step above econar, but based on the
calls we run only (and i realize some may not accept that as conclusive) its
quite a few steps below water furnace which i rank #1. econar is
garbage......ive replaced so many of their electronic TXVs (with mechanical
TXVs) that i now keep them stocked on every truck. since by the time the
homeowner calls me the damage is already done (TXV flooding the compressor)
a compressor swap out is usually a few weeks/months away.
in general (and again, based on what we're seeing in the field) water
furnace brand ground source units on the other hand, seem to run forever
despite total neglect. ive seen many units 15+ years old that have never
been serviced, that only needed to have the ground loops pumped up due to
normal expansion.
--
Nathan W. Collier
http://UtilityOffRoad.com
http://7SlotGrille.com
http://InlineDiesel.com
http://BighornRefrigeration.com
http://ConcealedCarryForum.com
http://1911Carry.com
http://GlockCarry.com



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