Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Let me preface this by saying that I have very little knowledge of geothermal heating/cooling systems. I'm not a "lieburral" tree-hugger by any means; I'm just trying to come up with an idea that may help Mom on her heating/cooling expenses at the farm. [And she has a Farmall Cub, in case anyone would object that there's no tractor-related content in this post.]
The house is heated by an oil furnace. As you all know by now, oil prices aren't going down...and since her last heating oil purchase was invoiced as "#1 off-road diesel," it probably won't get any cheaper this off-season, with all the political stuff going on.
The farm house has TWO old cisterns located near the house. One was used as recently as 20 years ago, when grandma finally decided to go to 100% "city water." Mom says the other cistern leaks; my uncle, who also has an ownership interest in the farm, says BOTH cisterns leak.
Leaks aside, I'm wondering if we might just dig up the tops of those two cisterns, and install a couple of those modern poly cistern tanks as a "liner"...and then use the cisterns as a geothermal source.
Would it work? Why or why not? I'm thinking that using the 53-54 degree F water in these existing cisterns [re-lined] would make more sense than digging up the yard or the barn lot to run a lot of lines...IF it would work.
So...does anyone who is experienced in dealing with geothermal heating and cooling systems have an idea? I know you could give me a more accurate answer if I knew how many gallons the cisterns are, but I simply don't know.
There is no natural gas line nearby...so the only options are the existing oil furnace, propane [I have propane, and I do NOT recommend switching to it], or wood...which she would have to purchase...and at 82 years young, I don't think she needs the added work of feeding a wood furnace. I just think that a geothermal heat pump "assist" might make her oil usage go down, and cut her heating expense over the long term...as well as enhancing the value of the property, should they ever decide to sell.
Thanks in advance for any informed ideas.
The house is heated by an oil furnace. As you all know by now, oil prices aren't going down...and since her last heating oil purchase was invoiced as "#1 off-road diesel," it probably won't get any cheaper this off-season, with all the political stuff going on.
The farm house has TWO old cisterns located near the house. One was used as recently as 20 years ago, when grandma finally decided to go to 100% "city water." Mom says the other cistern leaks; my uncle, who also has an ownership interest in the farm, says BOTH cisterns leak.
Leaks aside, I'm wondering if we might just dig up the tops of those two cisterns, and install a couple of those modern poly cistern tanks as a "liner"...and then use the cisterns as a geothermal source.
Would it work? Why or why not? I'm thinking that using the 53-54 degree F water in these existing cisterns [re-lined] would make more sense than digging up the yard or the barn lot to run a lot of lines...IF it would work.
So...does anyone who is experienced in dealing with geothermal heating and cooling systems have an idea? I know you could give me a more accurate answer if I knew how many gallons the cisterns are, but I simply don't know.
There is no natural gas line nearby...so the only options are the existing oil furnace, propane [I have propane, and I do NOT recommend switching to it], or wood...which she would have to purchase...and at 82 years young, I don't think she needs the added work of feeding a wood furnace. I just think that a geothermal heat pump "assist" might make her oil usage go down, and cut her heating expense over the long term...as well as enhancing the value of the property, should they ever decide to sell.
Thanks in advance for any informed ideas.