[maztaim]

If I were building new in the north, ground-loop heat pumps make more sense, less maintenance, less trying to eek out a temperature difference. You will likely already have the equipment on-site for grading and foundation work. No need to remove material permanently for it…

[nickpeterson]

I’d love to hear experiences on ground source installs in suburbs. I’d love to do one but feel like I’d be forced into a vertical well which I’ve always heard is an outrageous cost. I’d love to be wrong.

[SketchySeaBeast]

I'm also wondering about the cost of maintenance and repair (say, in case of an underground refrigerant leak). I too would love to be wrong - it'd be a decent solution for a cold Albertan winter. It doesn't matter that the air is -40 if you're below the frost line.

[trey-jones]

I have two self-installed ground source heatpump units (6 tons total) in operation since summer of 2016 with no maintenance except for the loop pump. I was using two very old second-hand pumps until last summer (one for each unit), when one impeller completely disintegrated. I took the opportunity to reconfigure the plumbing and wiring a little bit to use only one pump (more modern, theoretically better fit for my system), and it has been smooth sailing since then. We'll see how long the new pump lasts I guess.

As for loop installation, I have a few acres and dug a ditch with my dad's backhoe. Most homes around here don't even have room for a septic system, much less a horizontal ground loop. I can't speak to the cost of a vertical system, but I think it would also affect the specs of the loop pump, and not in a good way. Check for tax-incentives as well: I got a 40% tax credit on the units themselves when I bought them.

I have to edit to address the underground refrigerant leak: I haven't had to deal with this. I can only say that it would not be a fun time. I think in a properly installed and tested system, it shouldn't really happen outside of freak seismic events though, at least within a human lifetime.

[SketchySeaBeast]

How deep are your lines buried? Did you need to be concerned about the frost line?

[trey-jones]

My ditch was 8 ft. which I believe would be considered overkill. I'm also not worried about freezing at all (GA, USA). My system does more work in the summer than the winter.