DIY Digging trenches for Geothermal

[Gofast]

I am bringing in top soil to get grass to growing.
For settling I will need to add top soil you really can’t grow grass in red clay.
We have had lots of rain and it has not settled at all yet but I am sure it will. I am not sure how long that will take.

 

[ovrszd]

Yeah, I understand the topsoil thing. Not sure what piping you laid. Just understand that displacement is all you needed to haul away.

Yep, it'll definitely settle. In your case it's pretty easy to know how much.

 

[Gofast]

Not much space taken up by the pipe it is ¾ pipe it goes out to end of the trench then back two loops in each trench.
So very little space is used in each trench.
I only used my tractor to pack the trench and it is only weights 3K pounds.
1/2 the trench was filled with dirt then it rained and filled the whole trenches with water so this should help some with packing it.

 

[ovrszd]

So your piping space is very little. Actually insignificant. So you are going to need all of that dirt back. Then add topsoil.

 

[Gofast]

we have had inches or rain scene I filled the trenches in. It has been over a month since they were filled back in.
The trenches all both a little higher that the ground right now. They would be a foot or more higher in I put that dirt back.

I just read on the Geo forum that it could take a couple years to settle back in. they suggest letting some dip for good as it catches rain and helps the Geo system perform better.

 

[ovrszd]

Yeah, sometimes it takes awhile.

There's no magic here. If the trench area was flat when you started, and you hauled away 69 yards of dirt, you will have to haul 69 yards back, plus however thick layer of topsoil you want.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

^ you would think that to be true, but i have lots more leftover dirt than what i took out. I have filled the settled areas twice, very little settle since.

 

[Gofast]

^ you would think that to be true, but i have lots more leftover dirt than what i took out. I have filled the settled areas twice, very little settle since.

How long did it settle? How long has it been?

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Been 7 yrs. If i put any more on top, i will use topsoil instead of what i dug.

 

[Gofast]

My tractor has been busy spreading top soil and using my rock rake.
Here is a before and after yard picture.


We are running AC now yesterday was 93 degrees and the Geo unit used 16.3KW (24 hour period) to cool the house.
I am glad I got a two stage system. Stage one was able to handle yesterday.
This gives longer run times and better humility control and a more comfortable home.