Hidden Plumbing Problems: What to Look for

Open And Closed Loop Geothermal A/C Installation, Plumbers, And You: How This Works

7 August 2019

Herbert Chambers

Geothermal A/C installation requires a solid working knowledge of how to install and lay plumbing in the ground. The two most common installation configurations of the loop pipes are open and closed. Here is why plumbers may be involved or subcontracted by the HVAC contractor to help install one of these two loop configurations. 

Because Water Runs Through the Loop Systems

In both configurations, water has to run through them in order to get air cooled properly. In a closed loop, that water may be mixed with antifreeze, or the antifreeze may run through a pipe that surrounds a smaller pipe through which the untainted water runs. The water in a closed loop system almost always comes from your home's plumbing system, thereby requiring that a plumber connect your home's main water line to an extension that runs into the closed loop of your geothermal cooling system. 

In an open loop system, the water comes from a well or a ground water source. It has to be pumped up and into the geothermal system through a series of pipes and hoses. Again, a plumber would be assisting the HVAC contractor with finding that source of water, pumping it up through the series of hoses and pipes, and connecting it to the geothermal system. 

Because the Loops Are Pipes

The loops themselves are pipes. They have to be configured and connected in just the right way to make the system function properly. The loops, technically, are not looped like a football stadium, but more like a rectangle or elongated square. The vertical loops (i.e., the ones that require that the HVAC contractor excavate a hole twenty feet straight down into the ground) often have an elbow pipe at the very bottom of the loop, making it appear more loop-like. Regardless of which type you have, both types are comprised of plumber's pipe, and most often are metal so that they will last longer, but PVC is also used. 

Because the Plumber Is a Consultant on the Project

Even if the plumber is not actively laying the pipes for your geothermal system, he or she is present to act as a consultant in the event that something is amiss with the pipes. If something does not fit right in the ground, or does not fit right with the next pipe in the line, the plumber can provide insight as to why. The plumber also helps test the system and fix any leaks before the whole loop is reburied. 

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