This is the most important reason that your contractor is certified to fuse PE (polyethalene) pipe. If the installation of your loop field is done incorrectly your loop field will not perform properly...possibly even leak.

The pipe itself is a polyethalene pipe with a resin core. This core keeps the pipe from breaking down over time. When properly installed, the loop field will last anywhere from 100-150 years without a hitch. The manufacturer of the pipe has completed stress tests with results lasting as long as 200 years.

There are no mechanical joints placed in the loop field. Mechanical joints will break down more readily and are unreliable when exposed to natural elements. All joints in a geothermal loop field are fused together. A fusing iron that heats up to ~550 degrees F is used to melt the pipe to each fitting. After these joints cure they are actually stronger than the pipe itself.

Before backfilling, we always pressure test the loop field with water or air to be sure there are no leaks. We test the field @ 60 psi for a minimum of 20 minutes. After the field is backfilled you will never have to worry about it again.