We would like to build a detached garage on our property. The best place to build it would be over a segment of the geothermal loop of our geothermal system. We have had the geothermal system for around six years. We would like to build a 24' x 30' garage with a concrete pad. The concrete pad would extend over a straight segment of the geothermal loop. The straight segment of the loop would run along about mid-way to two-thirds of the way toward the back of the garage. We would be parking our car and truck (ford f150) in the garage. The geothermal loop is a horizontal loop, over 400 ft long, buried around 5' - 6' in the ground. We live in Indiana, and have dense clay soil in our yard. Is it OK to build over top of a geothermal loop segment? Has anyone else ever done this?
I am not sure what you mean by "keep the footings away from any freeze/thaw". Would a floating slab w/ a thickened edge be OK, for "freeze/thaw"?
I like to be at least a foot below frost line with my loops. If that is what happened have at it. Insulate to your wallet's ability. Use small digging machines.
