Are you telling us that you are returning the water to the same well that your drinking water came from ??
Roy
Hello. I'm new to to the forum and need some guidance on our domestic HP system. What I hope to do here is find out whether I should seriously consider converting our existing open-loop system to a closed-loop system. I consider this for several reasons including: possible well contamination by HVAC system, wear on our well pump, energy used by well pump, etc. I'm a real fan of ground source HPs but suspect that most of my energy savings is being eaten up by the energy it takes to lift water 200 ft. only to dump it back down the well.
Here's some basic info on our current configuration:
- 3 Ton Florida heat pump, about 20 years old, seems adequate for our heating needs.
- Heat exchanger fed by domestic drinking water well
- 3 HP well pump set at 300 ft, 500 ft. total well depth, water lies at 200 ft. below surface.
- Well capacity when dug was about 10 GPM
- Water from well pump is stored in a pressure tank in basement
- Water from pressure tank serves domestic and HP uses.
- After water passes through a copper coaxial heat exchanger in the FHP unit it returns to the well (dropping 200 ft.)
- We're located in SW Virginia, 5 acres, hilly, mostly wooded.
- Water is hard and we have a lot of bedrock in the yard. Trenches would be difficult but not impossible.
- I've inspected the inside of the heat exchangers but don't see significant scaling.
- We have no surface water sources.
- Water temp entering the from the DW well HP is about 49 F
Hopefully the info above is sufficient to help answer the question at hand: is it worth serious consideration to convert to a closed loop system? If yes, I'll start investigating alternatives such as:
- installing a closed loop in my existing well
- investigating trenching on our property
- Other options?
Apologies in advance if this topic has been covered elsewhere. I'd appreciate links to previous discussions or search keyword suggestions. I know well what its like to see recurring issues come up in a discussion board.
Thanks in advance.
Are you telling us that you are returning the water to the same well that your drinking water came from ??
Roy
"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act."
George Orwell.
Yes. I thought to edit the post to say that outright but didn't. I'm embarassed to admit I didn't know how.
The water is returned to drinking water well, the same well the water comes from. This is the way the system was built and has been used for 20 years. I was surprised when I bought the house that this was even in accordance with code.
What part of the country are you in. I cant imagine this being a good thing, if the water coil ever has a freon/oil/acid leak, you will be drinking contaminated water.
I have serviced a lot of pump and dump systems in this area, and the water was usually dumped in to a ditch, or was used to water the lawn/garden.
The biggest problem with systems like yours is that you are using a pump that supplies your house, and such pumps are generaly way too large. Whenever the unit runs its water needs are a lot smaller, and the well pump constantly turns on and off, the main reason for pump failures and high electric bills from constant on and off, of the pump.
I have two units like yours and use a dedicated 1/2 hp well pump wich is setup to run constantly while unit is running, and it can supply both units.
The system needs to be setup so the pump always runs when unit is running.
Roy
"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act."
George Orwell.
Roy, I hear what you're saying and the issues you have hit on are why I'm considering making some changes. Because I'd prefer not to have to drill another well I'm thinking of inserting a closed loop into my existing drinking water well to prevent well contamination and so that I can use a much smaller circulation pump. I'm assuming that the loop I'd add to my well would not be sufficient for my 3 ton load so I'm considering also adding some trench lines.
Thanks, Andy
Any updates on this issue? I was researching installing geo
and a drinking water well. Thought I could
do both in the same hole and save $$$$.
I believe you are referring to a "standing column well" one the options of an open loop system where water is returned to the same well.
The fact that is has run for 20 yrs is testament in itself.
It's unlikely you will be able to use the well with a closed loop system and from your description of the property trenching will not be an easy task.
Water pump technology has advanced quite a bit in the last 20 yrs.
You may want to consider upgrading the unit (technology has advanced there also) and the well pump.