Geothermal Loop Field

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Geothermal Loop Field

Geothermal loop fields, like heat pumps, are measured in units called “tons”. Each loop in a field is designed to provide 1 ton of energy for the system. So if your geothermal system requires a 4 ton heat pump then it calls for 4 loops or in some cases it could call for 2 loops, but twice as long.  EcoMech can help you to determine the best strategy for your loop fields.

Amount of Space Needed for Vertical or Horizontal Loop Field

The amount of space required for the loop field is often a determining factor of which loop field to use (for example, vertical or horizontal) for your geothermal system design. There are three choices of loop designs which we will educate you on below.

Vertical Geothermal Loop Field

Vertical loops are drilled straight down so they require the least space to install. These are the ones that mostly drilled here in Georgia with homes of less field space/area.

Vertical loops can be spaced as close as 10 feet apart, allowing them to be installed in a space as small as the driveway on a city lot.

Horizontal Geothermal Loop Field

Horizontal loops require the greatest amount of space because the loop installed spans pretty far in the field and of course, it is horizontal to the surface. Depending on how they are configured,  loops can range from 100 to 800 feet in length. If you have enough use-able land, horizontal loops can be installed.

Horizontal loop fields are created by digging trenches with a backhoe then we insert insert polyethylene pipes and back-fill the trenches. Various horizontal loop configurations are possible, using one, two or three circuits per trench. The more pipes you have in each trench, the shorter the trench can be. Trenches normally range from 100 to 300 feet , depending on the design. A typical home requires 1⁄4 to 3⁄4 of an acre for the trenches.  One of our geothermal loop installations showing a very vast horizontal loop field can be seen here

Dropping a Lake Geothermal Loop  

In Georgia, EcoMech has dropped many lake loops in the backyards.  A lake geothermal loop field requires a body of water that is at least 1/3 acre in size and at least 12″ deep. This helps to keep the pipes from freezing in the cold weather. If an adequately sized body of water is close to your Atlanta home, EcoMech may be able to install a loop. Our precise computation of the success of a lake loop is determined by a face to face meeting and calculations of depth as well as other factors.