Geothermal heat systems are made up of two main components: the heat pump and the ground loop. While the geothermal heat pump is above ground and accessible, the ground loop is laid below your lawn to collect geothermal energy for heating and cooling your home. One big question many homeowners and business owners have about installing geothermal heat system is how deep does the ground loop need to be buried?
Depending on the lay of the land, the underground features, and the size and design of your system, the depth of the ground loop will vary. The amount of space available for installation is a determining factor also. If there is a large amount of space available, the ground loop may be laid horizontally rather than vertically. This means your ground loop doesn’t have to be dug straight down, which may be necessary on smaller lots. When the available space is limited, the ground loop must be dug vertically in order to meet the needs of the system while keeping within the confines of the space.
Another determining factor of how deep the ground loop will be buried has to do with budget. Horizontal ground loops are a cost effective way to bury this network of piping, as they are typically not placed as deep as vertical ground loops. The size of the geothermal heat system needed to heat and cool your home will also help determine the depth and placement of your ground loop.
All these factors will be considered when determining the placement and depth of your geothermal heat system’s ground loop. With these factors in mind, Smith Sustainable Design will design an appropriate and effective ground loop which will collect the geothermal energy used to heat and cool your home. Before installation, we’ll discuss the design of your system, as well as the placement and depth of your geothermal ground loop, and address any questions you may have. Contact us today to learn more about placing a ground loop for your new geothermal heat system.
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