Help with my GT system

[jongig]

I purchased a new home and had a heating contractor install a forced air, closed loop, 4-ton geothermal system. The system is a Tranquility 27 which is 2 stages and has a third stage that is electric resistance. The GT-loop is two vertical bore holes 300 feet each. I've received little information about its workings and we are not really happy with the heat. Besides I hoped my electric bill would not be so high and it's over $200 and for a 2,400 SQ ft house it seems like alot. I use LP-gas for cooking and a gas dryer. Electric water heater. We live in NE-PA near Scranton in zone-5.

I programmed the thermostat for 65 degree days and 70 evenings and 67 degree nights.

The unit can not heat the house on a 30s day from 65 to 70 by the time we go to bed 9-10PM. I was told that I shouldn't set the temperature so low durring the day or I could have the third stage come on sooner. My kids room has never seen 70. My wife thinks we have to suplement our heat by using the LP fireplace.

I've placed temperature probes everywhere.

Temperature of the loop is 32 in and 28 out when it runs for awhile.

Temperature of the air from the unit is either 78-80 or 88-90, first and second stage.

My kids room gets as high as 68 but never 70. I've shut many grates off and so now I hear whistling.

The unit runs nearly all the time.

The house is dry and about 35% humidity.

We're not even cold outside yet and I wonder if we'll be warm and scared of the electric bill.

Thanks very much for taking the time to read this.

[palacegeo]

Hi, Sorry to hear that you are having problems.

What type of wall and ceiling insulation do you have?

It sounds like the 3rd stage electric heat is probably coming on, which would explain your high electric bill.

How experienced was the installer?

Who designed the system? Was a Manual J heat load calculation done?

[dll]

Originally Posted by jongig

We live in NE-PA near Scranton in zone-5.

Temperature of the loop is 32 in and 28 out when it runs for awhile.

I am no expert on this but the loop temperature seems to be quite low to me.

[rw1995]

That loop temp seems really low. I only been up and running for a few weeks now but my horizontal loop is in the upper 50s. I'm around Omaha, NE.

As far as the auxillary heat, this can be shut off. I'm experimenting how long I can go into the winter with stage 1 and 2. I'm assuming I can go totally without the auxillary, as many other furnaces in the area rarely use it if at all. Look at you manual, there will be a dip switch to shut off the auxillary.

[Waukman]

What type of loop do you have: horizontal or vertical? Also, when was the loop finished? My vertical loop was completed and filled and taken live on Nov 8 of 2007. I have temperature sensors on the inbound and outbound side. The temp during the first year was entering the house between 40 - 38. This year the inbound temp is between 50 - 45.

[jongig]

Originally Posted by Waukman

What type of loop do you have: horizontal or vertical? Also, when was the loop finished? My vertical loop was completed and filled and taken live on Nov 8 of 2007. I have temperature sensors on the inbound and outbound side. The temp during the first year was entering the house between 40 - 38. This year the inbound temp is between 50 - 45.

My unit has been on for about a month now. The closed loop consists of two wells 300 feet deep with 1.25" pipe out and 1" pipe drop into the wells which are run in parallel.

The installer is experienced.

Why did your loop temperatures change over the year?

My electric strip heaters have not been on, yet...

I'm not sure what to do except live with it and hope for the best. I think I'd like to have the system evaluated and I will ask my installer to do it if he can.

[djw0324]

Are you able to get the in and out pressure (psi) you should have a p/t port. Are you sure you compressor in running when the unit is on? Check these and let me know.

[CoCo]

If you have not contacted the dealer, Pleae do so immediately. Did he do his own drilling.

If the dealer is useless, contact corporate ASAP

[jdh]

Just to throw some things out there..

What kind of flow center / Circulators?
Bad Fusion Weld ( debris in tubing) short circuit

if it 32ºF/28ºF now....wait for the middle of winter, it will never keep up

[Waukman]

Originally Posted by jongig

..snip
Why did your loop temperatures change over the year?
..snip

My loop temperature increased from the first year, I believe, because the water had time to settle and come up to a natural steady state level. When the line was filled it was filled with 40/45 degree water. The loop was able to keep the water at that level for the first year. During the summer the water had time to sit in the ground and raise that temperature to 50. The current water temp entering the system is 50 and today we are at 16 degrees outside.