We can help you determine whether your well can be used as an open loop for a geothermal heat pump. First, you will need to have a heat loss/heat gain calculated for your home so we know what size geothermal heat pump you will be using. This allows us to find out how many gallons per minute of water your well must be able to supply. Then your well's capacity and chemistry will need to be tested. There are two tests you can do yourself, and they should be done before any other testing:
Calculate Your Required Flow Rate. A geothermal heat pump on an open loop needs at least 1.5 gallons per minute per ton. If the water temperature is lower than certain cutoffs, the flow rate must be higher. Also, if this well is serving the domestic water use, you must add that to what the geothermal heat pump requires. For example, if you need a 5-ton geothermal heat pump, then you need at least 8 gallons per minute, for the geothermal heat pump. If your well water is as cold as 41°F (5°C) you will need more water flow and could be up to 12 gallons per minute, just for the geothermal heat pump. If you are using this same well for your domestic use, and your well water is warmer than 41°F (5°C). then you will need at least 12 gallons per minute, and if it is colder than 41°F (5°C), you will need at least 16 gallons per minute. We will help you determine your required flow rate, once you have your Manual J unit sizing calculation done.
Check Your Well's Continuous Flow Rate Capacity. Turn on your water and let it run continuously at its maximum flow for three days. At the end of the three days, measure the flow rate. You can measure flow rate with a 5-gallon bucket: count how many seconds it takes to fill a 5-gallon bucket. Next, divide 5 by the number of seconds, then multiply by 60. The result is your flow rate in gallons per minute. For example: If you measure 36 seconds to fill the 5-gallon bucket, your equation is: 5 ÷ 36 = 0.14. Next, 0.14 x 60 = 8.4 gallons per minute.
After you perform the flow rate test, you can test the water's pH. Use a swimming pool test kit and a clean glass jar. Make sure you rinse out the jar for five minutes right before you do the pH test, because any residue will contaminate the results (for example, dishwasher soap residue). If the water's pH is between 6 and 8, your well is worth getting professionally tested further.
If your well passes both of these tests, you should have static and draw down level tests done, and have the water tested professionally. When you have measurements from these tests, you can buy our Open Loop Well Evaluation Service, and send us the data. We will then evaluate your well's fitness for use with a geothermal heat pump, and help you to determine the correct well pump needed for your open loop geothermal heat pump system.
By purchasing our Open Loop Service you agree that you are providing (via e-mail and/or phone) us with the information to evaluate and design your geothermal open loop and that any results provided to you are based on the information you gave us.
The Open Loop Service costs $495.00 USD.
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