DIY Digging trenches for Geothermal

   / DIY Digging trenches for Geothermal #31  
Would just contract someone with trencher (not BH), 1/2 days work..... BOOM done.... Some time the obvious is over looked....

Dale
 
   / DIY Digging trenches for Geothermal
  • Thread Starter
#32  
Yes, I will look at this option. About how much does someone charge for that work?
I really never had a track hoe do any work so I do not even know a ballpark figure.
That is what the geothermal installers do.
 
   / DIY Digging trenches for Geothermal #33  
Finding a trencher that does 6' deep is going to be a bit tricky in most places. That is a BIG trencher (think ½ million$ plus machine)- and not something most people/rental yards have. Plus that is going to be big bucks to rent and a tractor trailer will be needed to move it!
 
   / DIY Digging trenches for Geothermal #34  
Track hoe work with a mini varies in price a lot depending on the area and "who" you are getting. A normal business man with insurance and such - figure $100 an Hr for something like that. We have some people around here that do it for $50 - basically a farm kid that runs his dad's old mini to make some money on the side.
Rental here is $250 for the weekend if you want to do it (they are easy to run and learn) - if you have a normal dig (not on a big slope, etc) rental is the way to go.
 
   / DIY Digging trenches for Geothermal
  • Thread Starter
#35  
No slope for this dig it will be in a open pasture that is mowed low right now. The dig is basically a L shape dig. The short part 25' then the rest is straight.
I will check around but $250 for a weekend would be perfect.
 
   / DIY Digging trenches for Geothermal #36  
Good luck! Don't know of any rental places with a Black Friday sale unfortunately... LOL
 
   / DIY Digging trenches for Geothermal #37  
I put a Geo unit in with mine ,but only 125' to my pond, it took a while. One slinky loop per ton 3'wide 60'ish long and 6' deep if I had used dirt for heat exchange. If you haven't bought your unit look at Miami Heat Pump.
 
   / DIY Digging trenches for Geothermal #38  
A few of the comments said that you should fill the trenches as you go. When they dug my trenches, they ran a 24 hour pressure test on the loops first to make sure there were no leaks. I would recommend the same.
 
   / DIY Digging trenches for Geothermal
  • Thread Starter
#39  
Very cool did you dig it with your 1720? how deep did you go?
 
   / DIY Digging trenches for Geothermal
  • Thread Starter
#40  
A few of the comments said that you should fill the trenches as you go. When they dug my trenches, they ran a 24 hour pressure test on the loops first to make sure there were no leaks. I would recommend the same.

I was wondering if others did this. If a loop did not hold pressure and you had it covered up it would be a huge deal.
I don’t have great luck I think I will do this as well.
 

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