Can a Geothermal Heating Unit Freeze?

[ugadog99]

I have no heat in the house. Yesterday morning it was working fine. Then, stupid me decided it would be a nice day for a fire. The weather has been so cold and below freezing for so long that I thought it would be a good idea to start a fire and give the heater a chance to turn off for a while. Since this deep freeze started, the heater has been running non stop. So, we have the fire, but now the heater won't come back on. The weird thing is both thermostats show the setting I have:70 not the real temperature in the house. (Which believe me is WAY below 70!) In the past when the unit messed up (AC in the summer) the thermostats would show the actual house temperature not the setting. From what I understand there is a series of coils that have water (maybe antifreeze but I think water here) running through them. That is what makes the unit run efficiently, I think. However, it has been so cold for so long that I think the water may have frozen. So, do you think it could thaw and start working? Today we are supposed to reach 35-38, but later in the week we will hit back to normal around mid 50s. Could it start working again? I now have both fireplaces going and one small space heater. I'm going to Walmart later and get another space heater. I really hate this house, by the way!

 

[DawnCt1]

I have no heat in the house. Yesterday morning it was working fine. Then, stupid me decided it would be a nice day for a fire. The weather has been so cold and below freezing for so long that I thought it would be a good idea to start a fire and give the heater a chance to turn off for a while. Since this deep freeze started, the heater has been running non stop. So, we have the fire, but now the heater won't come back on. The weird thing is both thermostats show the setting I have:70 not the real temperature in the house. (Which believe me is WAY below 70!) In the past when the unit messed up (AC in the summer) the thermostats would show the actual house temperature not the setting. From what I understand there is a series of coils that have water (maybe antifreeze but I think water here) running through them. That is what makes the unit run efficiently, I think. However, it has been so cold for so long that I think the water may have frozen. So, do you think it could thaw and start working? Today we are supposed to reach 35-38, but later in the week we will hit back to normal around mid 50s. Could it start working again? I now have both fireplaces going and one small space heater. I'm going to Walmart later and get another space heater. I really hate this house, by the way!

I don't have geothermal heat, but DH's cousin does. We have many days where it is well below freezing, and nights where it is below zero and their heating system works very efficiently. Usually the well is deep enough where the ground water is always at around 50 degrees. I would guess that something is wrong with the circulating/heating unit that heats the circulating liquid to a higher temperature.

 

[ugadog99]

That might be it, Dawn. I just think it's weird that it was working fine until it turned off yesterday and now won't come back on. I also know that some units (especially in colder climates) use anitfreeze. In the south, it tends to be water, so I'm still wondering if it could have frozen. Right now I have the entire unit turned off to give it time to thaw without being on. I don't know if that's the right thing or not though.

 

[DawnCt1]

That might be it, Dawn. I just think it's weird that it was working fine until it turned off yesterday and now won't come back on. I also know that some units (especially in colder climates) use anitfreeze. In the south, it tends to be water, so I'm still wondering if it could have frozen. Right now I have the entire unit turned off to give it time to thaw without being on. I don't know if that's the right thing or not though.

Unless the well where the coils circulate are incredibly shallow, I can't imagine that they would be frozen. I have a well that we depend upon for water. The water is still around 55 degrees because the frost line is only so deep. Your heating system coils have to be well below the frost line. I would call for service tomorrow. I think the circulating unit it is broken. Have you checked the fuse box/circuit breakers?

 

[Bildmouse]

Have you checked the batteries in your thermostat? Did the breaker get turned off accidentally? Just a couple things to check before calling for service!!

 

[wdwfan16]

A geothermal combination heater and A/C must have antifreeze added to the water. A geothermal A/C only can run on staight water.

 

[marlynnp]

Sounds like an issue with the thermostat. If the t-stat is reading 70 the unit believes the room is 70 and it it's not going to come on.

 

[ugadog99]

Normally when the batteries are low, the battery light will blink. However, I am picking up new batteries to try that. A quick question about the antifreeze: can it run low like on a regular unit and need replacing/refilling? I'm definitely calling tomorrow to have someone look at it and give an estimate.

 

[wdwfan16]

Normally when the batteries are low, the battery light will blink. However, I am picking up new batteries to try that. A quick question about the antifreeze: can it run low like on a regular unit and need replacing/refilling? I'm definitely calling tomorrow to have someone look at it and give an estimate.

I can't help you with the antifreeze as we only have the geothermal A/C.

Ours is not a sealed system. We have a unit in the basement that we fill with water. Each turn on season we have to add water and then we check it and add as needed during the season. When we turn off the system at the end of the year we get an overflow of water and have some on the floor.

Maybe check your overflow, if you have one, and see if it is full.

 

[ugadog99]

I just replaced the batteries in the downstairs thermostat. Now, it is reading 32 degrees. I have had two fires going all day and two space heaters downstairs. While it may be cool in the house, there is no way it is 32. So, before the new batteries it was reading 70 and now 32. I'm headed upstairs to put new batteries in that thermostat. It is reading 70 also. This is probably a stupid question, but can thermostats just die? I will check the breaker while I'm up there, too. These are the days when it really stinks to be a widow, two teen girls, and no one to rely on for help/suggestion/advice. It used to be my daddy I would turn to, but he passed away in October. I hate this.

 

[wdwfan16]

I just replaced the batteries in the downstairs thermostat. Now, it is reading 32 degrees. I have had two fires going all day and two space heaters downstairs. While it may be cool in the house, there is no way it is 32. So, before the new batteries it was reading 70 and now 32. I'm headed upstairs to put new batteries in that thermostat. It is reading 70 also. This is probably a stupid question, but can thermostats just die? I will check the breaker while I'm up there, too. These are the days when it really stinks to be a widow, two teen girls, and no one to rely on for help/suggestion/advice. It used to be my daddy I would turn to, but he passed away in October. I hate this.

A thermostat can die but two dying on the same day is not probable.

If the thermostat reads 32 then the heater should come on. Do you have a location in the basement that the two thermostats go to that causes the heater to state. Maybe that is broken.

 

[livie1205]

my thermostat dies last week...my dh went and got a new one put it on and it works fine now...I got up last sunday to a blank screen and without it the heat will not turn on.

 

[S. C.]

Bumping ... wondering if OP found out what the problem was.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Im currious too!@