you can get 3 kw worth of heat out of a good air source unit in chilly conditions without much trouble. That's about 10k btu per hour. There are many mini-splits in the 9 to 12 kbtu range that beat the 1kw power draw cited. The new, variable speed inverter units are more efficient than that during not so frigid weather, but carry added complexity and risk of failure.
Throwing together an experimental water or ground source unit (or air source for that matter) is an extremely worthwhile endeavor if you may want to assemble something more permanent in the future (or not). Yes, you can go out and buy prefab, pretested equipment, but it is expensive. The trial and error process on smaller rigs is pretty forgiving. The initial investment is low, since small window air conditioning units and dehumidifiers can be had second-hand for next to nothing. The main investment will be labor for your ground source.
Again, as AC has stated, read through some of the build threads in this forum. There are lots of systems detailed from start til present day, operating now, that started where you stand now. Some are finished, most are works in progress. When you design and buid your own rig, it's difficult not to tinker with it. Especially when you live in it.
Welcome to the forums. I hope you find at least some of what you are looking for here.
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