Five ground-source heat pumps were evaluated in rural residences across Saskatchewan, Canada. Three were well-to-well systems, one was a ground-loop, and one was a lake loop. The heat pump systems, which have been operating for between five and eight years, were intensively monitored for performance over a two-year period. Two of the heat pump systems had problems that put them out of service during the winter. Discusses these problems and presents results on duty cycle, cycle time, and coefficient of performance (COP) for average and peak heating conditions. Measured COP ranged from 2.5 to 3.6 for outdoor temperatures as low as -40 ° F (-40 ° C). The important hydrogeological aspects of each system are also described. Regarding economics, heat pumps were estimated to be the least expensive heating and cooling alternative in four of the five houses.

KEYWORDS: soil heat pumps, Canada, calculating, coefficient of performance, monitoring, comparing, measuring, economics, housing, heat pumps