Installation of Ground Loop Geothermal Heating System

While considering DIY geothermal heating for Green House, it’s highly recommended to choose horizontal ground loops, the easiest way of installation. All you need to do is to rent a back hoe with a 36” bucket for a slinky loop or a chain trencher to offer the single line trenches for ground loops. However, you can get away often with 600 feet piping in the southern climates.

However, you can consider vertical loops; but you have to count on a drilling company for creating the bole holes as they are must-have things. In addition to, well loop or open loop are very easy for installation and can be affordable as well as offer the optimal performance.

Again if you live in a lake, a lake loop may be possible; more numbers of municipalities are banning lake loops as they can be hazardous to the surrounding because of a pipe crack or leak. Therefore, you should contact the experts to help you with geothermal heating for green house.

For the installation, sizing of a geothermal unit is paramount – which is one loop per ton. When you’re in doubt, you can consider going for bigger. Remember that, the more the geothermal lines get in touch with the earth, the better the heat transfer will be. When you buy geothermal heating system from 123 Zero Energy, they use 1” high density poly-ethylene piping. The larger diameter means more surface area it gets connected and the better will be the heat transfer.

If you start the installation process, you should map out your property by making the measurement of distances of every trench. You should consider the additional supply and return pipe that you’ll need to connect inside the house. It’s highly recommended that you should never splice a loop in geothermal heating systems.

In addition to, you should contact your utility companies to make sure that you know the location of electrical, gas and water lines are buried. Once you mark out, you should hire an experienced back hoe operator in order to dig your trenches safely.

You have to maintain the minimum distance, i.e. 6 feet to make sure it’s below the frost line. In some of the northern regions, you should go to 8 feet to ensure you’re below the frost line. However, a responsible back hoe operator will help you out though they have knowledge of frost levels in your geographical area and will advise you throughout.

Once you have dug your trenches, it’s highly recommended that you align the bottom along with 6 feet of sand before laying down your piping. It will help in transferring heat ensuring there’s no such air voids around the piping.

The use of sand will help you protect the piping from any kind of sharp rocks that may be present inside your trench and could possibly puncture or damage the lines. Once you’re done with this, start filling up the trenches with around 6 feet – 12 inch sand.

Remember to wet the sand before filling as it will make sure that the sand fills tightly without any gaps around the poly-ethylene piping. At the end, fill your loops with the remaining soil and clay you’d removed before to make sure the ground is fully compact without any air voids.

How do you install a geothermal furnace?

The installation of furnace will be easy, if you are going to replace an existing furnace. Make sure to order the right suction side either left or right. This is why 123 Zero Energy supplies vertical geothermal furnaces that will be hung to the floor joist and present in tight spaces known as a crawl space.

Getting a large amount of air flow is paramount with the help of a geothermal furnace. In some of the situations, it may mean that you have to extend the size of the present trunk lines in order to allow adequate amount of air flow. Please keep in mind that the ratings of air flow in every heat pump is different. Therefore, consider going through the manufacturer’s suggestions beforehand.

Again, the furnace will require a power supply to operate electronics and the ECM fan motor. The electrical contractor should make the connections as they will strictly adhere to the local building codes. During this time, you may set up an electrical back up heating element which will be placed in the supply duct to deliver a second heating source.

Moreover, the furnace should be adjusted to catering the new heat pump as it won’t have the exactly same size that you may need. While installing a furnace, a vibration pad should be on the floor as well as vibration isolation between the furnace and supply line connection. It will make sure that the vibration of compressor remains isolated to the heat pump, offering you a whisper quiet heating system.

How do you set up flow center?

Unlike traditional geothermal systems, the available geothermal systems at 123 Zero Energy, are non-pressurized open loop, making its installation much simpler. Automatically, the pump will remove air from the piping, making commissioning a system a lot easier.

The geothermal flow center comprises of a large insulated reservoir that helps in pumping the fluid through the loops. If there’s any air present in the loops, it will return to the fill reservoir and release out of the system

Another benefit of a geothermal flow center is that a very little pressure that can cause leakages, only what the pump produces. It’s because technically it’s not a closed loop as there’s no requirement of an expansion tank.

On the other hand, the flow center saves you time in the installation process as the pumps are fully present in the system. Either one or two pumps will be used, depending on the number of loops.

Final Thought –

What are you thinking about installing geothermal heating system for green house? For further queries and suggestions, feel free to contact 123 Zero Energy and let us help you in the installation process. No matter whatever your requirements are, we’ll help you get covered!