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If it has sufficient water flow and a place for water discharge. You can use a creek, a pond, or a field for water discharge. We have extensive knowledge and experience with these types of systems and we are here to help you with yours. If you are looking for someone to install geothermal for your home or business, or you are just looking for more information, we can help. Yes, if you use a separate well, you can be confident that your domestic water production will not be affected.
Contractors drill vertical geothermal loops anywhere between 150’ per ton to 200’ per ton. In our experience, the systems run more efficiently with the extra length and can hold up better in extreme cold or record hot conditions. A typical 4-ton home would require two hundred-foot holes approximately 10’ to 12’ apart. An open loop system draws water from and returns it to a standing column well. A closed loop system re-circulates water and glycol solution through either a vertical or horizontal loop to pick up or release temperature, depending on the season.
Underground utilities
The heat pump concentrates the thermal energy and transfers it to conventional ductwork or an under-floor radiant system, which circulates the heat. In warm months, the process is reversed and the cooler fluid exhausts heat out of the house. As a bonus, the unit can assist with hot-water heating. In summer months, geothermal cooling functions in a similar way to standard air conditioning, only heat is not simply ejected into the outside air, but rather deposited deep in the ground for future use.
Drilling will not damage trees but when excavating between the holes with a backhoe, a substantial amount of root damage is possible if you are under the canopy of the tree. We use a 12” wide bucket and excavate 4.5’ deep between each hole and up to the house. Our goal is to do all the drilling and excavating outside the canopy of the trees to avoid damage. The house is split into zones according to how the airflow disperses into different areas of the house to balance heating and cooling throughout.
Geothermal is an excellent renewable heat source but there are many variables in calculating whether it's cost effective
This translates into a GHP using one unit of electricity to move three units of heat from the earth. GHPs also improve humidity control by maintaining about 50% relative indoor humidity, making GHPs very effective in humid areas. Horizontal ground source heat pump systems can be cheaper to install but require a significant amount of space, and it does some pretty intense damage to any ecosystems that lay in its intended path. For a given length of pipe, horizontal loop systems are a bit less efficient than vertical loop systems, as they can be more easily affected by surface temperatures. The other downside is that if or when there's a leak in the circuit, with a horizontal mat or grid style system the whole garden area has to be dug up again in search of a tiny leak that is losing the system pressure. I'm a little confused by your statement that geothermal is not a reasonable alternative for residential use, except in multi-residential or larger, and/or poorly insulated homes.
The tax credits cover any geothermal projects begun since January 2017 and will cover new ones that get underway by January 2022. To meet the requirements, the system must use the ground or ground water as a thermal energy source to heat the dwelling. The system must also meet Energy Star standards in effect at the time of installation. There are several types of ground loop systems, and all require quite a bit of earth moving and lawn repair. The most common and cost-effective is the horizontal loop system. Piping is laid in trenches from 100′ to 400′ in length.
Evaluating Your Site for a Geothermal Heat Pump
The cost of drilling wells to the geothermal reservoir is quite expensive. Taking into account the cost of heating and cooling system installation thereby surging extra costs. Radiant floor heating (in a concrete slab or above sub-floor application) and hot air heating systems with the appropriate ductwork can be readily converted to a geothermal system. Correct zoning and balanced airflow throughout the house are also important factors.
Depending on factors such as depth, volume, and water quality, bodies of surface water can be used as a source of water for an open-loop system, or as a repository for coils of piping in a closed-loop system. Ground water can also be used as a source for open-loop systems, provided the water quality is suitable and all ground water discharge regulations are met. The pros would be that they are extremely efficient and will work around 400% better than a traditional furnace.
Still, there needs to be adequate space for horizontal loop systems to be installed. Geothermal systems make use of the free, renewable energy stored in the earth. A geothermal heat pump uses the constant temperature underground as the exchange medium for heating and cooling, instead of outside air.
Horizontal wells use a larger amount of ground area than vertical wells. Multiple trenches up to 8 feet deep and two feet wide are dug into the ground for the pipes, which are laid across the bottom of the trench. A typical system will require 300 feet of trenches for every two tons of heating load. Trees are another obstacle in existing homes because sometimes they are large and numerous. When you look at the canopy of a tree you should assume the root system under the ground looks the same.
Four-inch-diameter holes are drilled about 15 ft. apart and 100 to 400 ft. deep. Puits bernier carried out the construction of geothermal exchangers with great efficiency. They were in full control of the works and they complied with environmental requirements as well as plans and estimates from start to finish. The availablity and professional rigor of the staff enabled us to follow the progress of the works with complete peace of mind. What I am trying to determine is what the costs vs savings might be, given that I don't have any ducting or air handling system. I'm not sure that investing in 5K for both the basement and attic combined is taking full advantage of potential heat savings.
Before you purchase an open-loop system, be sure your system supplier/installer has fully investigated your site's hydrology, so you can avoid potential problems such as aquifer depletion and groundwater contamination. Antifreeze fluids circulated through closed-loop systems generally pose little to no environmental hazard. The owner’s manual is a great starting point, and should be considered at all levels. As an example, some diagrams for connecting a domestic hot water generator to the hot water tank is fundamentally correct, but can be greatly improved by adding a “buffer tank” which costs only a few hundred dollars. Usually, the old location will work, but consider all of the options.
Don't think you will see natural gas phased out in Ontario . If the government of Ontario stops screwing up our electricity system,then geothermal is a great idea, and really pays off. Being at the mercy of an incompetent bureaucracy is not a good thing. If the furnace is old and needs to be replace maybe is a good time to do the change. This type of approach will encourage businesses to invest in building the carbon friendly infrastructure needed to achieve the carbon reduction targets our government is calling for.
It's impossible to solve an equation accurately with a bunch of variables and you currently have a lot of those. Im currently trying to find accurate data on tue calculations of possitive vrs negative inpact on differrent sources of energy. Find more about green home construction and reapthe benefits of a free Ecohome Network Membership here. Geothermal systems provide long-term value to a home and are becoming attractive selling points in the real estate market.
Heat Pumps: Ground source geothermal GSHP or air source ASHP, which one is…
A horizontal ground loop geothermal requires a larger yard than a vertical ground loop system. The vertical ground loop system only requires a 3 ft area, and then the ability to connect the system back to the indoor unit. This is a perfect option for either rural or urban areas. In order to maintain efficiency, geothermal heat pumps are also scaled to provide only the necessary amount of heat for the home. In the throes of the coldest day of the year, the heat pump may run continuously to meet the supply, but this is normal and does not overstress the system. If you’re lucky enough to have a pond a half-acre or larger on your property, your home may be a candidate for a pond loop system.
They will be able to answer questions about longevity and tips that they may have for you. Can be installed in new construction and retrofit situations. However, it’s a lot more expensive in retrofits requiring ductwork modifications. As we’ve often said, it’s very possible to install a geothermal system in an already built house. What should you look out for before, during, and after installation? You need to determine in your own mind if the money it costs to install a geo thermal system is worth the cash.
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