The Different Kinds of Loops in Geothermal Systems

One of our areas of expertise when it comes to providing heating and cooling for homes is geothermal heat pumps. This is a service that you won’t find with many HVAC companies, which is why we’re so proud to offer it to homeowners in the area.

We receive plenty of questions about geothermal heat pumps because people are curious to know if it’s really possible to outfit their home with one. We’re always glad to help out, especially if it means another house gets to enjoy the immense benefits that geothermal power has to offer.

In this post, we’ll take a look at the two different loop configurations used for geothermal heat pumps: horizontal and vertical.

• Horizontal – This is the more common of the configurations. If you’ve watched online videos of geothermal installations, this is probably what you saw. These loops are gathered together in a series of coils that are held together so they can be moved easily as a single unit. Excavation equipment digs out trenches about 6 to 10 feet deep across the property, and the loops are laid down at the bottom of the trench, lying flat. The trenches are then filled in.
• Vertical – Instead of lying down in a shallow trench, vertical loops are sent straight down into the ground through deep drilled holes. Where horizontal loops are only around 10 feet deep, vertical loops are set down as deep as 400 feet.

Which of these two is the right choice for your home? It depends on the available space as well as the ground on your property. If space is limited, or there are concerns about system efficiency, vertical loops are a better option. But if there’s sufficient space, horizontal is easier and less expensive to install. You can ask your geothermal installers for a professional opinion as to which loop configuration is better for your home.

Raleigh Heating & Air, Inc. has served Wake County and the surrounding areas for more than two decades. Call us today for service in Wake Forest, NC.