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Anyone have thoughts on heat pumps?

I've been thinking of getting a heat pump that circulates a fluid underground, but heard some people have had problems with them. Any ideas on prices, problems, advantages....? I live in Maine where the ground freezes down 6-8 feet. My current heating is with a wood stove that goes out when I'm not home.

Public Comments

1. i have only heard of disadvantages especially if you live in an area prone to cold snaps. it is expensive and i have heard of many people that have riped out fires only to regret their decision.. again i think it comes down to where you live. i myself would not do it
2. The upfront cost is so much I honestly dont think you can ever compensate in energy savings. Look for a maytag A/C dealer in your area and ask about the new IQ 23. A low end A/C unit today has a minimum SEER (seasonal energy efficiency rating) of 13. The new IQ series from Noryne has a SEER rating of 23. Just by replacing your existing 10SEER A/C with a 15- 16 SEER system you can potentially save 50% or more on your cooling power consumption.
3. Heat pumps are designed for homes in the South. Basicly, they're air conditioning in reverse. They are not efficient for Northern homes and employ standard electric heat for the colder days. Go with natural gas or propane. Electricity is cleaner, but more expensive.
4. Ground source heat pump systems are HUGELY expensive to install. I'm in Wisconsin so the climate is roughly similar here. I've put in some in commercial buildings but not in residential. The technology is relatively reliable if applied correctly, heat pumps have been around a long time. They are very energy efficient, but the payback on a residential system right now would be way out there because of the upfront cost. Give it a few more years for installation techniques get better and cheaper. Meanwhile, energy prices will continue to rise. I think we will be seeing more of them in the future as the economics of it makes more sense. If you are thinking about infloor radiant heat inside the house, the same arguments apply. Very expensive to install but it is a very comfortable, even heat. It can be used with your heat pump system and you could have a separate zone and thermostat for each room in the house. However, you can't cool the house with the same system because of the condensation that would develop in the floor on a hot, humid day. How do you feel about window air conditioners for the few weeks/months you might like cooling? What fuels are available to you? Natural gas is the most common fuel for residential heating around here. Oil is still used, and electric resistance heat can be used although very expensive. For people living in cottages "up north" in the boonies, its common to have propane with a storage tank that only needs to be refilled once a year. I've seen some new efficient and clean burning wood pellet and corn fired boilers with automatic feed devices that could keep your house heated for a weeks at a time without intervention. But in the end, if you have the money to spend AND YOU CAN FIND A DECENT CONTRACTOR TO PROPERLY DESIGN AND INSTALL THE HEAT PUMP SYSTEM, I think you would be happy with it.