Geothermal in Houston, Texas

[markrendon]

Are geothermal systems designed and effecient for year round in Houston, Texas? I'm thinking of getting into this if it will be a good idea for my customers.

[geodean]

yes

[watercop]

I'd give it a qualified yes. I'm involved in geo installs in North FL, similar climate to Houston. The basic design issue is entering water temp - If it gets much above 90, efficiency of geo drops toward that of high end air source units, and the extra cost of the loop becomes very hard to justify.

[markrendon]

Where do the actual savings come from with geo thermal, is it only when using to heat a home? my gas bill for my entire house is no more than $100 during the winter. Is the water furnace only good as a electric only household alternative? thanks

[markrendon]

anyone?

[ga-hvac-tech]

I have been reading on geo for a year or so now... thinking seriously about it for my home.

What I come across over and over is two things:
1) The field MUST be large enough or you will have endless problems
2) A field can become either heat or cold soaked... and the performance will fall off.
Either issue comes back to the same thing: Be SURE your field is engineered properly... or you will end up wasting a lot of $$$.

As to the details... LONG study... :)