When it comes to his profession, Vic Disharoon doesn’t wait around to follow the leader. In fact, you may call him a trendsetter — maybe even a pioneer. And though the most painfully overused two words in our culture currently involve “going green,” trendiness can’t possibly explain why Disharoon began doing it 27 years ago. It was then, during a renaissance of American self-perception, that Disharoon began distributing and installing geothermal heating systems for his customers.
“The handwriting was on the wall after what happened to the economy in the late ’70s, early ’80s,” recalled Disharoon, who founded Wicomico Heating and Air Conditioning in 1975. “It was clear that the whole geopolitical structure of fossil-fuel distribution was going to be a problem that wasn’t going away and that Americans were going to have to think seriously about alternatives that would reduce our dependency yet not ravage the environment.”
Geothermal systems basically transfer heat from your home to the earth during cooling mode and from the earth to your home during heating mode via a looped network of factory-tested and sealed conduits made from high-density polyethylene — the same stuff that’s used to make those strong-yet-flexible milk jugs to which we’ve all become so accustomed. Once sealed and pressurized, a water/antifreeze solution is circulated and recirculated through the pipes continuously, thereby eliminating any need for water usage. There are open-loop systems and closed-loop systems, and though the former are generally less expensive to install, they usually require more maintenance, whereas closed-loop systems require virtually no maintenance at all.
Closed-loop systems may be installed in a variety of configurations, depending upon the size of the yard and the cost of excavation. There is the horizontal-loop system, which is installed using a trencher or backhoe, or the vertical-loop system, which uses a drill rig to bore a hole into the ground that will contain U-shaped circulation loops. Though the latter is the more common strategy when dealing with smaller yards, both approaches are equally effective.
The Environmental Protection Agency calls Geothermal Heating Systems “the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean and cost-effective space-conditioning systems available today.” That’s why the federal government is offering whopping incentives to help Americans take the plunge into new and superior energy systems.
As of 2009, for example, not only have the feds reinstated a 30 percent tax credit for the installation of tankless water systems (from companies like Rinnai), but they’ve passed into law an incredible 30 percent rebate eligibility on the installation of geothermal heating systems, which translates to many thousands of dollars in savings. Even the state of Maryland is in on the game, offering a further rebate for the installation of such systems. (The only snag is that the state program is currently unfunded, so getting your money means having a little patience and placing yourself on a waiting list.)
“If we’re gonna get out of this energy crisis we’re in, this is gonna be the way we do it,” declared Disharoon, who just completed a two-year run as president of the Delmarva Masters HVAC Contractors Association in January. “Solar energy systems are coming, too; it’s inevitable. We should not only be preparing for it but welcoming it because it’s a good thing.”
What Victor Disharoon also considers a good thing — and another way in which he has his eye on the future — is the welcome inevitability that his only son, Chip, will soon be taking over the business.
“Chip started working for me right out of high school,” said the proud father of the 33-year-old company vice president, “and at this point can pretty much do anything I can as well I as can or ever could.”
While it’s undeniable that Chip has tons of hands-on experience and every industry-related certification you can imagine, there may be some ways in which the Chip-off-the-old-block has outpaced his old man, if you consider that in his twenties, Chip was actually a race-car driver.
“Yeah, Chip was really good… he even won a race that was televised on ESPN,” shared Disharoon, himself an avid boater and past-commodore of the Wicomico Yacht Club. “In fact, Chip still gets calls from people who wanted to hire him as a driver.”
What is just as clear is that as gratifying as his success driving professionally must have been, the driver’s seat Chip most wants to occupy now is the one at Wicomico Heating and Air Conditioning.
Both Chip and Victor Disharoon invite you to give them a call to discuss all the latest strategies in heating and air conditioning, since they represent every state-of-the-art manufacturer of every type of system currently on the market. Also be sure to ask about their service packages, another great way to save money while extending the life of your equipment.
“Around here we live by a very simple motto,” Victor advised. “Nobody goes home until everybody has heating or cooling.”
Wicomico Heating & Air Conditioning Inc., Salisbury, Md., 410-742-5542
