But once it's in, it's quiet, reliable, and low maintenance.
Good points above, especially about the landscaping mess—seen that happen a few times. Couple quick thoughts from experience:
- Payback period varies a lot depending on local energy costs.
- Definitely vet your installer carefully; quality varies widely.
- Long-term reliability is solid, but upfront planning is key.
Good points, especially about vetting installers carefully—I've seen some horror stories. One thing I'd add from experience is to double-check your home's insulation and ductwork before diving in. Earth heat systems run best when your home's already energy-efficient; otherwise, you're losing some of those savings right out the window... literally. Learned that the hard way after installing ours and finding cold spots everywhere. Fixing insulation afterward wasn't fun (or cheap).
Totally agree, insulation's key. Older homes like mine can be tricky—thick walls but sneaky drafts everywhere. We ended up sealing windows and doors first, made a huge difference. Earth heat's awesome, but gotta prep the house first or you're just heating the yard...
