Ground Loops in Atlanta, Georgia, Geothermal Applications

You’ve finally gotten, or are contemplating getting, a a new heating and cooling system. Maybe you’re considering a new Geothermal HVAC. Whatever the circumstances, you very likely want to know a little bit more about how geothermal works.

Geothermal HVACs take consistent temperature from the ground to deliver hot or cool air to your home’s interior. This can be done because of an underground system called a geothermal ground loop.

Ground loops are essentially just a system of pipes buried in the ground. There are various basic kinds of ground loop systems that can be used for heating and cooling commercial or residential buildings.

It works when antifreeze fluid flows through these plastic pipes to get heat effectively and efficiently down to a heat pump in the building.

There exist four different types of geothermal ground loops: Open Loop, Pond Loop, Horizontal Loop and Vertical Loop. These are divvied up into two categories categories: either they’re open loop systems or closed loop systems. The appropriate system for you is determined by your structure and the property on which it sits. Household systems primarily use vertical or horizontal loops.

Below are more specifics on each type of ground loop.

Closed systems, which encompass vertical, horizontal, and pond loops, continuously move water through them.

Vertical ground loops are used most often in residences because, unlike horizontal loops, they don’t require much of space. They’re set in place by drilling tight-diameter holes in the ground that go 100-400 feet deep. Then pipes are driven into the holes and connected below ground to form the vertical loop. Next, additional pipes are attached that channel fluid to the indoor system to transfer the needed temperature from the ground.

A horizontal loop system has to have significantly more space but is typically less pricey since it uses only 2 straight pipes set 6 inches in the ground over an area of ¼ to ¾ acre.

In order to make use of a pond loop system, it should be evident that you must be near a pond, lake, pond, or well. Coils are installed vertically and attached to the bottom of the water source. Water is then transported through more pipes belowground to a pump, where the heat is withdrawn and cool water is put back into the pond. Still, in order for this system to work, the water can in no way be be acidic or else pipes will decay and filters will need replacing often.

The major difference between open and closed looped systems is the open loop’s need for an ample source of groundwater, like a well or pond. From there, it directly pumps water into the heat pump unit for use in heating and cooling your house or other structure.

Used water is disposed of in one of two ways: through surface drainage or water re-injection. In returning the water back to the earth, it’s worth noting that pollution is not a by-product. The only difference in water that’s processed through a geothermal heat pump is a negligible change in temperature.

Before you install an open loop system, it is essential to know whether a well or pond contains enough water to power your geothermal heat pump, and that it won’t use up a neighbor’s well source. Be sure to check with your local contractor on whether there’s enough water at hand to warrant installing an open loop geothermal heating system.