Field case · Geothermal install · Broken Bow, OK · 2023 to 2024

A new home in Broken Bow, a 1,600 foot vertical loop, and a ClimateMaster Tranquility

4.8 stars, 300+ Google reviews

Broken Bow is about as far across Oklahoma from my shop in Kingfisher as you can get, and that is part of why I am writing this one up. For geothermal I travel. This was a new home under construction, 2,588 square feet, and the owner wanted to price geothermal before the walls went up. That is the best time to do it.

4.8 stars, 300+ Google reviews · IGSHPA Accredited · ClimateMaster GeoElite

Two options, side by side

I wrote the estimate in May 2023 with two options: a geothermal system with its own ground loop, and a conventional system. I like to put them next to each other so the homeowner is choosing between real numbers, not between a brochure and a guess. The owner chose geothermal. I also told her up front that drillers were running about 12 weeks out, because on a new build the loop has to fit the construction schedule, not the other way around.

The loop

• 1,600 feet of vertical loop. Vertical bores take far less yard than horizontal trenches.
• Each bore gets two high-density polyethylene pipes joined at the bottom with a U-bend, and the bore is grouted solid. The grout gives good heat transfer to the earth and protects the groundwater.
• I designed the loop and sized the system. The drilling itself was done by my OWRB-licensed driller. The loops were finished in February 2024.

The equipment

• ClimateMaster Tranquility geothermal heat pump, TE series.
• 15 kW auxiliary heat strips as backup.
• ClimateMaster ATC32U03 iGate communicating thermostat.
• Safety float switch at the indoor unit.

The load and the ductwork

In December 2023 I ran the duct load and designed the ductwork for the house. A geothermal unit is only as good as the air it can move, so the duct design was part of the job, not an afterthought. The scope included new supply and return runs, a return filter box with a 2 inch filter system, and the bathroom and kitchen vents.

How the job ran

• May 2023: estimate written, two options.
• October 2023: the geothermal unit and plenums set at the job site.
• December 2023: duct load and duct design, install started, rough-in.
• February 2024: loop drilling finished.
• July 2024: returned to finish the install and start up the unit once the house was ready for it.

A new build moves at the speed of the builder. The loop, the rough-in and the start-up happened months apart, and that is normal.

Warranty

The equipment carries ClimateMaster’s 10-year parts warranty and a 5-year labor allowance, which can be extended to 10 years if the system is registered within 90 days. My own labor warranty is on top of it, as written on your contract.

Results, and what I will not claim

The system was started up in July 2024. My job record for this house does not carry the start-up readings, so I am not going to print performance numbers I cannot show you, and I am not going to tell you what it saves. What I can show you is the process: two options priced side by side, a loop designed for the house, the duct load run before the ducts were built, and a driller and a start-up scheduled around the construction. If you want to see what a proper start-up record looks like, I wrote one up here: geothermal commissioning record.

Questions I get about new-home geothermal

When should I bring in a geothermal contractor on a new build?

Before the foundation and the ductwork are set. The loop has to fit the lot, the drilling has to fit the builder’s schedule, and the duct design has to fit the unit. On this job drillers were about 12 weeks out, so earlier is better.

Do you install geothermal in southeast Oklahoma?

Yes. Geothermal is not limited to my seven everyday counties. I take geothermal work across Oklahoma and in most states that border it. This job was in Broken Bow.

How much loop does a house need?

It depends on the house, the load and the ground. This 2,588 square foot home got 1,600 feet of vertical loop. I size every loop to the house in front of me, never from a rule of thumb.

Who drills the loop?

My OWRB-licensed driller does the drilling. I design the loop, size the system and stand behind the install.

How much does a new geothermal system cost?

It depends on the house and the loop, so I price it on a free estimate. On weekends, geothermal evaluation, consultation and sizing are free, as availability allows.