We purchased a house that had geothermal existing. Was built in 1999 in southern Illinois. The company that installed it can not find a record of the install. No one can tell us where the loops are running. We want to dig a pool but obviously don't want to hit our loops in the process! We have a Water Furnace, about 2200 sq ft house and our yard is flat, 5 acres - about 3 acres are open/not heavily wooded. Not sure if any of this info helps - but just curious about what we can do to find the loops. The install company stated they did not put 'trackers' on the loops back in 1999. They are leaning towards it most likely being horizontal rather than vertical because of the yard space and new construction. A plumber offered to cut in to the loop and send a 'sensor' down the loops to locate them. Then the heating/air company would have to come back to repair the cut...concern when asking heating/air folks about this was getting something 'lost' in the loops. Another heating/air company (that services our unit now) said they wouldn't worry about digging where we are planning and if , worse case, we hit a loop, it's easy for them to come and fix - just turn off unit immediately once a loop is hit. Our contractor (who will be digging) spoke with another person and their concern was that when backhoeing, it is not a big deal if you just break a loop. The bigger concern was if you 'pulled' a loop - it could dislocate further down the line where it is not seen/known and then dirt would get in the system and ruin it. SO, I guess my question is, what can we do to locate the loops at this point, and what is the least risky way to proceed from here! Thanks in advance for any help you can offer! Shari
Hi and welcome: I have found "missing" radiant floor loops using a point and shoot thermometer. It was sort of easy we let the floor go cold the quickly heated it. Bingo loop here, loop there. That might work in your case. There are systems that are used to locate buried utilities I do not know if one could locate loops using the water to carry the signal. Dig slow and be careful. If the loops are HDPE that is petty tough stuff. Mark
I think you should look into GPR (ground penetrating radar). They are used to locate underground utilities when they can not be detected with typical locating devices.
Presumably you have a place in mind you'd like to put the pool. If the loops happen to be there you will have to relocate them anyway.
It's a long shot, but has worked for us... once. Google Earth has a "history" bar allowing you to look at your property along a timeline. Bergy
