my mythbuster thread
Reply #2 –
Having a hot-water spring on your property is almost a requirement to get the "geo-thermal" benefit from.
My dad tried a stunt like this, in that took 4 old water heaters who's elements burnt out in, and made the necessary piping to connect them all, before running into the fifth working water heater.
Wanna know what he saved on electric? about 6 cents/year.
He had 2 tanks on each side of his wood stove, as well.
It was real interesting when he came home off the road (he drives a truck) to find a foot and half of water in the basp00get from where one of the tanks rusted. NICE! lol
A really effective geo-therm. system goes deep into the ground, if I remember from reading about it.
Kind of like a ground source heat pump, if you will, only on a much vaster scale.