Overall I am extremely happy with the services offered by Ground Loop Heating and Air Conditioning. I have an older home (built in 1928) and it still had steam radiators and no air conditioning besides window units. This was a very large job, involving retrofitting the home with ductwork to heat and cool every room, remove the old boiler unit, and install the geothermal unit and ground loops. To complicate matters, the home has a completely fenced yard that limited grounds access to dig the loops, and the city permit office has constrictive rules on where you can dig the holes in reference to other properties.
The estimator/project manager, Jason, was very easy to communicate with and I always felt he was being upfront with me on the status of the project. His office staff was also very communicative and even helped with the rebate process to ensure I received all the possible rebates. Great Stuff!
The installers were professional and did extremely quality work. The city inspector even commented on how well the ductwork was installed. There was an electrical sub-contractor (I didn't catch the name), but they were efficient and professional.
There was also a sub-contractor that dug the wells, Allied well drilling. Their employees were professional and courteous, but it did not seem that the on-site personnel were empowered to make decisions. This did lengthen the timeline of the project.
That is not to say this was a perfect project, but I can say empathically that Ground Loop went above and beyond to complete the project with no increase in price, despite several unforeseen issues..
All in all I was very happy, but I do have some things to consider if you are considering a geo-thermal system :
The project went well over the projected timeline. While this was not an issue for me (if a bit frustrating), if that is an issue for you, you may want to negotiate some timeline penalties with them before you sign a contract.
Most of the delays came from changes in the layout of where the wells were supposed to go. It went from 02 wells to 08 wells, dramatically increasing the time required. You may want to consider having the sub-contractor confirm your local regulations and placement of the wells prior to signing a contract.
If you have not had a core sample done (who has?) be aware that there is no way to predict the material makeup of the ground 300 feet down. This may necessitate a change in equipment or drilling method which will add time. It is a necessary evil, and can't be avoided unless they can use their full size well rig on your property. They couldn't on mine, and it caused issues. In retrospect, if I could have moved a shed or some fencing, I should have. Be flexible.
Lastly, be prepared to have your yard torn up. It rained a lot during the install, and they needed water in the drilling process, so my yard is beat up, but again, this is the nature of the work. If this is an issue for you, they offer hand raking and restoration at additional cost. If you don't want to put in some work after they are done, you should opt for that option.
The end result however is fully functioning system that is very inexpensive to run (the other day it never got above 35 and it only cost $3.89 to operate). I am very happy, and could not recommend these folks more highly. If I had to choose again, I would make the same call. read more