Types of Pipe Used for Geothermal Heat

Piping Material

• The geothermal loop is typically created from high-density polyethylene. This is a tough, highly-durable plastic that allows efficient transmission of heat. Underground installers connect these sections of pipe by heat fusing the joints for added strength. Sometimes a geothermal system utilizes a loop of copper piping, where the heat is transferred directly from the copper to the Earth.

Parrallel Pipes

• This horizontal ground loop involves easy to dig trenches as long as there is adequate room to install the pipes. Trenches, 3-feet to 6-feet deep, are dug below the ground to install parallel plastic pipes. The trench is then filled to avoid damaging the pipes. A typical horizontal loop will include 400 tfeet o 600 feet of pipes per ton of heating required.

U-Bend Piping

• When underground space is not sufficient or surface digging is prohibitive, a vertical ground closed loop is used. This involves boring vertical holes into the Earth to lay pipes, similar to digging a well. A single loop of pipe with a U-bend at the bottom is inserted. This pipe is the connected to a horizontal underground pipe that carries fluid in a closed system to and from the building. Vertical loops are typically more expensive. Yet, they require fewer feet of piping than horizontal loops.

Slinky Pond Piping

• A pond closed loop is often used when a building borders a body of water. Fluid circulates underwater through polyethylene piping, which is worked in a slinky shape.This is a closed system and has no environmental impact on aquatic life.