Yet another VERY interested reader. I'm in SE Iowa, building a large shop/garage this spring.
I'm trying to decide among several options...
1. Install GEO (using pond or otherwise) for the house only and tie it in the note for the shed. Heat shed with in-slab radiant using propane water heater.
2. Install GEO for house and shop...is this even possible using one unit?
3. Forego GEO altogether...not likely, as I spent $2000 on propane this past fall, and while it's down a bit now, LP will probably climb back eventually.
Pond is about 150' from the house, so it's definitely doable. Just not sure how much experience local installers have with that type system...gotta talk to 'em about it, I guess.
My house is probably not too far from your location as we are south of Indianola. We heat and AC our house and garage (about 4000 sqft) with GEO. It was installed 2004 by LesMes based in Truro. They sized the unit and specified all the components such as pumps, thermostats, tubing, fittings etc. and installed it. My observation is that those guys understand the plumbing part pretty well but have only enough knowledge about the controls to make it work. After talking to other contactors I think that they are all like that.
At the end, after about one year of operation, I made several small changes to the "plumbing part", fixed few leaks and replaced the controls altogether.
Our heating electric bill in January was about $100.
