Drilling for Water- consider geothermal?

Troy2013

Looking for opinions/possibilities on this.

We are nearly ready to complete the purchase of a small farmhouse. House is early 1900's with no heating systems (except lots of fireplaces).

We have to bore a well for water and I'm considering our options regarding heating-mainly the possability of geothermal as I would like to use a renewable energy system.

Do any of ye good folks know if it is possible to use the same bore hole for both our drinking water and for the geothermal heat use? If it has to be seperate, is this due to contamination issues?

Would like a few opinions before I bring the idea to our Engineer- who already thinks we are daft for buying such an old property.

Thanks.

Condenser

It is possible but only on a water to water system. The best way to do it is to place the pump in the dump well (you'll need a supply well and return well for the geothermal). This way you won't starve the HP of water if the heat pump and water pump need to run together.
You also won't need to pull up two pumps if one fails.
I wouldn't be looking at geo unless you have a low temp distribution system. If you're on rads give it a miss.

JD6910

please make sure you insulate and an airtight the hell out of the 1900's house!!!

go with a strategy of super insulated and airtight and a handy low cost heating system...

Troy2013

Thanks for the replies.

JD6910 thanks for that- We are looking at externally insulating the house and insulating the roof. We are also taking up the suspended wooden floors and putting down a new damp-proof course (as much as can be done in a pre-existing building) and putting in insulation and poured concrete floors.

I know that rads are a no go with geothermal so we are hoping to put in underfloor heating when we are pouring the new floors. We are waiting on a few contractors to price this as a few have said to us that retrofitting underfloor isn't worth it. That will eventually determine what heat source we can use then.

So Condenser am I interpreting you right in thinking we would need two boreholes then. A supply well and dump well?

Thanks.

JD6910

Troy2013 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

JD6910 thanks for that- We are looking at externally insulating the house and insulating the roof. We are also taking up the suspended wooden floors and putting down a new damp-proof course (as much as can be done in a pre-existing building) and putting in insulation and poured concrete floors.

I know that rads are a no go with geothermal so we are hoping to put in underfloor heating when we are pouring the new floors. We are waiting on a few contractors to price this as a few have said to us that retrofitting underfloor isn't worth it. That will eventually determine what heat source we can use then.

So Condenser am I interpreting you right in thinking we would need two boreholes then. A supply well and dump well?

Thanks.

apparently alu rads are ok with a heat pump but there is better qualified people on here to advise im sure.

Condenser

Troy2013 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

JD6910 thanks for that- We are looking at externally insulating the house and insulating the roof. We are also taking up the suspended wooden floors and putting down a new damp-proof course (as much as can be done in a pre-existing building) and putting in insulation and poured concrete floors.

I know that rads are a no go with geothermal so we are hoping to put in underfloor heating when we are pouring the new floors. We are waiting on a few contractors to price this as a few have said to us that retrofitting underfloor isn't worth it. That will eventually determine what heat source we can use then.

So Condenser am I interpreting you right in thinking we would need two boreholes then. A supply well and dump well?

Thanks.

Yes you need to return the water you pass through the heat pump back to the ground, preferably into the same seam of water but downstream so the cooler water being pumped back doesn't affect efficiency. Also test the water so you don't end up having problems with iron etc affecting heat exchangers.