What is your cost/gal for propane and cost/kwh for electric? What size HPs are being quoted? Any electric rate incentive from your electric utility for HPs?

IMO

Hello,

What we pay for electric is $0.149544 per KWh. This is the generation, taxes & transmission costs combined. There is a $110 per ton rebate from the utility, but they discontinued residential heating rates many years ago. Propane is $1.92 a gallon. The HPs are sized at 3 ton.

Salti, That is another plus to the gas furnace. We are waiting on Tesla's Powerwall as back up power charged by our solar.

If its only the above ground component of your geothermal setup that has failed, and given your other limiting issue (no natural gas availability), have you considered just replacing it? Propane is expensive and will only get more-so as crude oil prices (inevitably) increase.

Modern air-to-air heat pumps will work down to single digit temperatures, albeit less efficiently, but I still think a serious re-evaluation of your existing geothermal setup is worthwhile.

Hi sktn77a, The above ground portion of my geothermal system is 100% functional. The leak is in the copper ground loop with a $5000+ estimate to hand dig to the manifold to start testing with no guarantees that it can be fixed or that more leaks will not occur. It was a great system supplying all of of out heat, cooling and 100% of the domestic hot water. It was difficult to let it go.
To what you are saying about new HP's, that is what I was curious about these units we are looking at. How low can the out door temp go before electric heat strips have to come on?

Bummer about the underground coils! :(

Check the COP vs temperature of the two models you are interested in. Should be around 2.5 at 15-20 degrees. Auxiliary heat strips will start coming on at the "balance point" which depends on COP, outside temperature, inside temperature and heat loss of the home.

It may be worth looking at putting entirely new underground loops in, not repairing the old. I think many now use loops made of other things (e.g. plastic) than copper, so less prone to break/leak. You didn't say how old your geothermal system was; technology has improved at least some. That said, understand if you now hate it and don't want to risk.

It was a direct exchange type of field, so copper filled with Freon. The system went in 2003. Now companies like Earthlinked (who I should have used) place a slight charge on the field to avoid corrosion. Actually I still think the geo is a great thing. Its just kind of a tough sell to the other half at this time. Plus the cost to to put in a new field is 2/3rds the cost of a new HP system.

If the above-ground system is working fine, I'd be inclined to work on the better half some more and try to replace the underground coils. Even at 2/3 the cost of a new HP system, you won't have to mess with propane and/or air-to-air HP issues.

Note: I'm not a fan of Geothermal (not by a long shot!) but once you have it set up, I'd stick with it if at all possible

Ah, you had the direct exchange type of field - I understand most now use the closed loop type, where the field does not use freon - water plus antifreeze, plastic tubing - so less likely to leak (no copper in the ground), and refrigerant not under pressure). I don't know how easy it is to convert to the other kind, but it really would be worth getting a reputable firm in to look at it and give you an estimate. I'm with sktn77a - you don't have to be a fan of geothermal to think that since you had a system that worked for 12-13 years and combined well with your solar to keep your electric bills at zero that it may be worth sticking with it. I presume your spouse was unhappy because the field failed. Good luck with your choice. To be careful, you'll also need to consider the age and efficiency of the heat pump you have now, and whether it might need to be replaced eventually.

Hi, Not sure I understand your comments about the age of my heat pump. The Geothermal did it all, heat/AC and domestic hot water.
Since it turned cooler recently, we have been running on the back up heat strips that were installed into the air handler with the Geo. We have a number of quotes on air sourced system which I am going to open a new thread on. I want to thank all who contributed to this thread!

@barrybud, my comment only relevant if you were going to consider staying with geothermal - basically condition of the existing heat pump (and how long it may still be good for). I still think worth getting a quote on doing a new geofield just for comparison, but understand if you've decided to go with air sourced.