Minimizing Yard Damage During Your Geothermal Installation
If you’re considering a geothermal installation on your property because of the myriad benefits, you may have fears about what the project will do to your yard. After all, you’ve probably put a lot of time and money into beautifying your landscape.
Nature plays a large part in how messy geothermal installations are. For example, soil density and makeup affect the depth of tire tracks. Greater moisture in the soil can cause water and mud runoff; and any groundwater the drilling equipment encounters could cause water to spill into your yard.
While some disruption to the land is inevitable, you can minimize the damage with these three techniques:
Choose a Reputable Contractor
When you compare geothermal installers, ask if you can see pictures of their past projects. This gives you a feel for how well the contractor minimizes the mess. Look into advanced equipment, such as vacuum excavators and haul-aways to take mud and water off your property. A cyclone diverter is another way to minimize damage. These options may require an additional charge, but it could easily be worth it to conserve your yard’s beauty.
Select a Strategic Loop Design
You have several loop configurations to choose from, including:
- Horizontal loops: These tend to be the messiest to install, because they require a backhoe to dig trenches several hundred feet long.
- Vertical and directional loops: A backhoe might still be needed for these configurations, but they go straight down or at an angle. This means less surface area is disturbed, even if the same amount of mud and water are produced from the geothermal installation.
Work With the Installer to Choose a Location
The contractor understands the most advantageous spot to install the geothermal system, but if multiple options are available, you can provide your input. For example, if there’s a particular area in your yard you prefer to leave untouched by the excavation team, make your opinion heard.
To learn more about having a geothermal installation completed on your Wichita property, contact the professionals at Comfort Systems today.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Wichita, Kansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about geothermal installation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.