Hi I need a little help understanding this. Dealer recommended a 5 ton unit his loop source is -horiz 0.75"-4 pipe soil type is - Heavy Soil Damp Average Depth - 5 feet Loop temp Min-Max - 27 96 F Trench length - 695 feet Ok, here is what I understand, please correct me if I am wrong Going to do a horizontal ground loop using 3/4 inch pipe set in at 5 feet with 4 pipes going 695 feet, A total of 2780 feet of loop I am guessing that the pipe needs to be 12 inches apart And I read somewhere that a single loop should not be more than 800 feet, correct or nonsense? Thank You Greg
A loop per ton. Dewayne is correct. Pumping issues occur at 300' for 1/2" and 500' for 3/4". I want 10' preferably 15' of separation between loops. Depth depends on dirt and climate. Your mileage may very. Mark
Thanks! so basically, this loop will not work. Since it has a trench length of 695 feet and 3/4" tubing is only good for 500 feet.
Well, guess I need to talk to a couple more contractors. makes me wonder what else is insfficient Thank You
What is wrong with a loop like that?. 4 parallel circuits, 700 ft length each? Sounds reasonable, depending where you are, your load. With a (2) pump 26-99 flowcenter, you should get around 14.25 gpm. While I would try to design for a single pump flow center, once you go to a 2 pump flocenter, this design will perform OK.
I would not hit the panic button just yet, if it is a typo and he meant to spec 1" pipe, your numbers to pump will be alot better. Eric
Thanks I am not panicking, just getting frustrated, every contractor that i have talk to seems to have there own way of wanting to do it. seems there is no industry standard. One even said 1 loop 3000ft long, wonder what size pump that would need. I have talk to people who love theirs and I've talk to people who say they are not saving anything If it is not going to be efficient then whats the point?
By identifying the disparity between design and execution, you are allready miles ahead of the game. Be patient and stay at it, the right guy for your project is out there. Eric
There are absolutely industry design standards. Several. There are many ways to "skin each cat". You are focused on loops without telling us things that are really important such as how did each contractors references check out? Who measured the whole house for a load calc etc. I have mentioned more than once before that our emphasis on loop design can sometimes turn a potential buyers attention from what matters most.
I include load calcs and design data on most quotes providing I actually meet and sit with homeowner. That way I have a sense for how serious they are as shoppers. The folks I meet by internet or who wish to send me prints for their 8 sided 5000 SF house "so I can ball park cost of a geo radiant system" simultaneously designing ground loop system......"yeah the other guys wanted to charge me too I just wanted a ball park"......."Around 50 maybe? Well look at the prints and see if that's the ball park......" If I have a sense that people would like design work for free so that they may then continue to shop via internet ("guys won't have to ball park it now because I have the heat load calc and design data that joe gave me...." I offer this product for a fee that may be deducted from the purchase of a geo system.
