There is 1533m of plastic pipe to be buried in the top field for the ground source heat pump. Spaced 0.75m apart, this means we require around 1100 sqm of ground.
Rather than digging trenches, we are removing all of the top soil and sub-soil to a depth of 1m. This should be quick. The top soil and subsoil is put into different piles so that when the ground is reinstated the top soil is on (yer) top.
We haven’t got enough space to store all of the soil in one go, so we are installing the ground loops in sections – digging a section, installing the pipework and the back filling the section, before moving on and digging the next section.
While this is a lot of work, it is quicker than trying to dig 1m deep trenches.
We were a dumper driver down on Monday afternoon, so I stood in for a couple of hours.
This is a big dumper and takes 10 tonnes of soil at a time!
The view from a 10 tonne dumper as the topsoil is being removed.
How much does it hold? mmm……
We were a labourer short on Monday afternoon and I got the (dubious) honour of standing in – 3 hours driving a 10 tonne dumper! I am the Stig!