Geothermal versus condenser boiler

R

Red1

Guest
Me again!

Due to the cost and rising electricity prices I'm looking at a modulating combi condensing boiler over the Geothermal. Am I mad? Previous posts suggest that this is the way to go, very convincing argument.

Was told horror stories lately about people who changed from Oil to gas (probably with inefficient boiler) and had to change back due to the very high running costs ? Is the LPG route still the best option as a previous post suggests buying the Tank and getting the LPG on the open market??

Is it possible, and economical linking a solar panel into this system ?? Any recommendations for somebody capable to look at this system?

Thanks
 
You'd have to do the maths. Condensing boilers are very efficient. I have a geothermal heat pump. The systems use a fair bit of electricity to drive the fans and pumps but then again you don't have to buy any oil or gas. If I was doing it again I'd look more closely at a wood pellet boiler or CHP, especially now that the pellet supply problem seems to have moderated with Balcas upping production and getting their distribution systems in line with demand.
 
extopia said:
You'd have to do the maths. Condensing boilers are very efficient. I have a geothermal heat pump. The systems use a fair bit of electricity to drive the fans and pumps but then again you don't have to buy any oil or gas. If I was doing it again I'd look more closely at a wood pellet boiler or CHP, especially now that the pellet supply problem seems to have moderated with Balcas upping production and getting their distribution systems in line with demand.
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Extopia - Going by what you have said you don't have a geothermal heat pump, you have an air sourced or aerothermal heatpump if you are talking about fans. Geothermal is the ground sourced heat pump.
Just to clarify ;)

In order of best performance from the research I have done and talking to suppliers and people in Unis who did papers on the alternative heat sources and heat pump in order of best to worst you are looking at:

Water Sourced heat pump (river, lake)
Bore Hole or Vertical heat pump
Geothermal or Ground sourced.
Aerothermal or air sourced.
 
Any indication of the likely savings these systems would have over oil/gas heating systems? I am currently buying a house that has Aerothermal installed as standard, it was supposed to be geothermal with the green areas of the development to be used for the pipes but the developer went the aerotheremal route instead, probably due to costs.
 
Very little difference in installation between Geo and Aero.
Difference wud be cost to excavate the ground, possibly lay a sand bed which some companies require u to do, and fill it back in.

They all, in general, lay the piping.
They all use the same heat pump.

Depends on the installer, mate as Aero and is ripping it out after only 18 months, costing him over 2k per year on eletric, his plumber/ now know as chancer, installed it for him, make a donkeys ar*Se out of it and he is now going to install geothermal.

So make sure that the installers are reputible and not a "by the way I now do heat pumps" installer
 
I would say my gas bills are currently about €1500/year and ESB about €1000/year and thats only for a 3 bed semi. If the new house (almost double the size but much better insulated) came in at €2k for total ESB including heating, lights, cooking etc I would be very happy! I suppose what I was wondering is if anybody out there has used geo/aero and gas/oil on the same house and compared overall house costs. ESB only vrs ESB+gas/oil, the overall energy cost reduction/increase as applies to the same house, any info?
 
yop said:
Extopia - Going by what you have said you don't have a geothermal heat pump, you have an air sourced or aerothermal heatpump if you are talking about fans. Geothermal is the ground sourced heat pump.
Just to clarify ;)
Click to expand...

Nope - it's geothermal. I shouldn't have said fans - I should have said compressor/evaporator.
 
Just more info the digest!!

There are 2 types of Geo, this may also be relevant to others, I am not sure.

The Direct Expansion, DX. This is a refridgerant which goes through the pipes as opposed to the Brine (anti freeze and water)

The DX does not require a pump, the Brine does which equals more electric use.

If I could do it all again, I wud flood the neighbours land and use the water sourced ;)
Only messing, I would use the bore hole, more efficent and takes up less space and probably cost the same to install as the Geo
 
A ground loop is far easier and cheaper than a borehole - ground loop only takes half a day with a digger to excavate and fill in (the installer should be on site and supervising the digger in case there are any problems, and ready to roll out the loop while the digger has his lunch. So if you have the space, it's the way to go.
 
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