Geothermal heat pumps rely on the natural temperature of the earth to heat up well water before it is sent to your home faucet. There are several regulations that must be followed to use one in Virginia.
Geothermal heat pump
A geothermal heat pump is an efficient way to use well water. A geothermal heat pump pulls water from your well and heats it up while it is still in the pipes that connect the well to your house. The heat pump keeps that water hot using natural ground temperatures, so it is environmentally friendly.
Above ground casings
In Virginia, wells must extend above the ground by at least 12 inches. If you have a geothermal heat pump well that is set up on a closed loop and heated by a geothermal source, you do not need to adhere to this regulation.
Well casings
Most wells in Virginia need to be encased in 20 feet of concrete or a similar material underground in order to protect the ground water in case of contaminants. However, closed-loop heat pump wells, which keep the water within the system, do not need to be encased.
