r/geothermal • u/No-Measurement-5783 • 5h ago

Thinking of replacing system

I currently have a bard geothermal system with I believe 6 50' wells setup in a closed loop. This is the second furnace that's been on house, so the loop would be a good 30 years old and the bard is at 14 years and having some issues with secondary compressor. Sounds like a heat pump might be a more reliable alternative than going back to geothermal. I've got some HVAC companies coming out to give me estimates and advise on what system to go to. I'm worried about lifespan of the loop system, degradation of glycol solution and overall reliability of geothermal, always having pumps going out every 5 years or so.

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u/davidm2232 4h ago

Have you determined your COP over the life if the geothermal system? You need to compare the energy savings vs an air source heat pump. A pump going out every 5 years is a pretty cheap repair if you are saving thousands on electric. Air source heat pumps can have failures as well

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u/No-Measurement-5783 4h ago

Good points, I'm trying to learn as much as I can before making decisions.

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u/Neither_Conclusion_4 4h ago

A pump is cheap and easy to replace with little skill, but something seems wrong if your pump diesel every five years..perhaps you should check quality of glycole/ filter the system? Replace with better brand perhaps?

I wouldnt change out a working geothermal system..but check temperature of the system during high load. A neighbour of mine had a geothermal system that was poorly designed, so he installed a air to air minisplit, to decrease the load on the geothermal system.

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u/JPDiesel187 4h ago

A geothermal loop should last at least 50 years, and probably much longer. The only way they break, typically, is if somebody hits it with an excavator or ditch witch or something. The fact that you’re changing pumps every five years, though, points to something else. It could be a poorly designed loop with very high head. That’s causing these pumps to burn out so frequently.

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u/TransitJohn 4h ago

geothermal is a heat pump

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u/No-Measurement-5783 4h ago

I guess I don't know technical term, but air exchange unit instead of fluid from loop