VERSATILE GROUND-SOURCE HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS

EXPLORE

UNLOCK EARTH ENERGY

As seasonal temperatures intensify and energy prices rise, ground-source heat pump systems offer a cost-effective, reliable and eco-friendly solution.

This modern and sustainable approach to heating and cooling provides future-proof, year-round comfort — no matter the building type.

Our ground-source systems are available in a wide variety of configurations and are custom designed to the specific parameters of your project.

Pipelife HVAC Ground source full system illustration

Pipelife HVAC groundsource collector pipe

COLLECTORS

Hydraulically optimized ground-source pipe collectors are made from high-quality HDPE, ensuring long-lasting performance and corrosion resistance.

We also offer PE-RC variants for industrial applications where excellent point-load and impact resistance are a priority.

MANIFOLDS

Our prefab manifold cabinets come pressure tested and fully pre-assembled, including all components and pipe connections. They can be easily connected to ground-source collectors by a single installer and immediately put into operation.

With our manifold configurator, we offer various combinations of manifolds, cabinets and connections so the system is customized to your needs. 

MANHOLES

Pipelife manholes provide easy access to your ground-source heat pump system for technicians to safely carry out inspections and maintenance.

In projects where indoor space is limited, our manholes can also be used to house manifolds outside in one compact and unified solution. We offer pre-insulated connecting pipes to ensure heat retention as the circulating fluid approaches surface temperatures.

GROUND-SOURCE HEAT PUMP SYSTEM COLLECTORS

Ground-source collectors come in a variety of configurations. The best option for your building depends on the available space, soil type and budget. We offer components for all collector configurations with specially designed prefab options for tight vertical installations.

Pipelife HVAC groundsource collector horizontal

Horizontal collectors

Horizontal collectors are one of the most economical ground-source setups since the installation site is relatively shallow — approximately 1.5 meters.

However, they do require a relatively large lateral footprint of approximately 2 m2 of ground space per 1 m2 of indoor space.

Therefore, they are best suited to buildings with plenty of surrounding outdoor space.

Pipelife HVAC groundsource collector vertical

Vertical collectors

Vertical collectors are a great alternative for properties with limited outdoor space, such as apartment or office buildings.

Vertical installations are deep but have small borehole diameters, and the loops required are too tight to simply bend the pipe. Our prefab loops are connected by a U-piece to ensure the carrier fluid flows freely, while maintaining a close enough loop to fit the restricted installation space.

Since they require deeper installations (approximately 100 m), soil composition can impact the effectiveness of vertical collectors. Clay and water-based soils allow for the best thermal transition, while sandy or cavernous soils can be more problematic. Before you commit, we can carry out a soil analysis and confirm whether vertical collectors make sense for your project.

Pipelife HVAC groundsource collector basket trench

Alternative collectors

While horizontal and vertical collectors are the most common configurations, alternatives such as trench, basket, spiral and slinky-loop collectors provide flexible options where space, access or ground conditions limit standard installations.

We offer all the piping components required to implement these alternatives and our design team can customize your setup to include whichever collector combination makes most sense for your property.

BENEFIT FROM GROUND-SOURCE HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS

Ground-source systems provide a reliable, long-term solution for sustainable heating and cooling. Discover how ground-source heat pumps systems can make the difference in your project.

CUSTOMIZE YOUR SETUP

Combine various collector configurations to achieve optimal performance for your project’s size, soil and available space. Leave layout design and thermal load calculations to our experts, who will support you every step of the way.

RECEIVE TURNKEY SOLUTIONS

From detailed system and layout design to delivery and on-site guidance, our team will ensure your ground-source heating solution is primed and ready for seamless installation.

INCREASE PROPERTY VALUE

Set your property apart with a modern, sustainable and cost-effective heating and cooling system. Green, future-proof energy systems are key to supporting higher valuations and attracting premium buyers.

ENSURE ALL-SEASON COMFORT

As the only form of renewable energy that is completely weather independent, you can use this unique heating and cooling method to provide cost-efficient, eco-friendly and reliable comfort throughout the year.

SCALE FLEXIBLE DESIGN

Whether a single-family home, multi-story office building or large commercial facility, ground-source heat pump systems can be scaled and combined to match any heating and cooling demand or architectural design.

DEPEND ON QUALITY

Count on ground-source solutions to last 100+ years with minimal maintenance. Every one of our systems is rigorously tested, fully certified and compliant with national and international standards.

REDUCE OPERATING COSTS

Significantly reduce your building’s operating costs by utilizing renewable and unlimited underground thermal energy to produce a highly efficient 1:4 heat output ratio.

Build Sustainably

Ground-source heat pump systems can help your building meet strict sustainability targets and green certification standards (e.g., BREEAM, LEED).

MINIMIZE RISKS

With custom-designed collector layouts, precision planning and quality-assured materials, on-site surprises are reduced. Predictable installations ensure projects deliver on time and within budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. WHAT IS A GROUND-SOURCE HEAT PUMP SYSTEM?

Sometimes incorrectly referred to as geothermal heating systems, ground-source heat pump systems consist of buried pipes that take advantage of stable underground temperatures. A water-glycol mixture runs through the pipe network, absorbing thermal energy from the surrounding earth which remains between 8 °C and 12 °C year-round.

For heating, ground-warmed fluid travels from the pipes to a heat exchanger inside the heat pump, where its heat is transferred to a refrigerant. The refrigerant is then compressed, which raises its temperature. The additional thermal energy is transferred to the building’s heating system to warm the room.

Ground-source heat pump systems work most efficiently up to around 55 °C and therefore combine well with low-temperature systems, such as hydronic wall and underfloor heating.

For cooling, the cycle is reversed. In a building with hydronic cooling, warm indoor air is absorbed by fluid circulating through the hydronic pipe network. This warmed fluid travels via the heat pump into underground collector pipes where the heat dissipates due to lower ground temperatures in warm weather. The cooled fluid returns to the building’s hydronic system, absorbing more heat and lowering the room temperature.

This process ensures efficient, all-season climate control utilizing the reliably consistent temperatures underground.

2. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GROUND-SOURCE HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS AND GEOTHERMAL HEATING?

Although the terms “ground-source” and “geothermal” are often used interchangeably, there is a technical difference:

Ground-source heat pump systems consist of pipes buried between 1-3 meters into the ground for horizontal collectors or approximately 100 meters deep for vertical collectors. At these depths, surface-level weather does not significantly impact ground temperatures which remain between 8 °C and 12 °C all year.

Ground-source heat pump systems harness this consistent ground temperature to heat or cool pipe fluid and use it to regulate the indoor temperature of a variety of residential, commercial or even industrial buildings.

Geothermal systems on the other hand, go much deeper and have a more simplistic open-loop extraction. They utilize heat emanating from the earth’s core and therefore require much deeper installations (more than 500 meters).

Instead of using this heat to warm fluid in a closed-loop system (like ground-source heat pump systems), geothermal systems simply extract groundwater that is deep enough to be warmed by the earth’s core and use it directly for heating operations.

Given the cost of deep drilling, geothermal systems are significantly more expensive and are only used for large scale projects, such as district heating.

3. HOW DO I KNOW WHICH TYPE OF GROUND-SOURCE HEAT PUMP SYSTEM IS RIGHT FOR MY PROJECT?

Ground-source heat pump systems are highly flexible and compatible by design. There are a variety of collector types to choose from depending on the size of the building and soil conditions — as well as options to combine different collector configurations to make the most efficient use of your space.

For example, a single-family home with a decent-sized garden will benefit most from a horizontal collector system. Expensive drilling is kept to a minimum, yet there is enough space to laterally loop the collector pipes and benefit from the underground thermal transition.

Alternatively, commercial buildings or office blocks with limited outdoor space can take advantage of vertical installations. Minimal outdoor space is required, but soil conditions are a factor. The make-up of the surrounding soil will affect the efficacy of the thermal transfer, and in some cases, might make deep drilling impossible. However, if the soil composition is mainly clay and/or water, vertical installations can be an excellent option for projects that lack the lateral footprint required for horizontal setups.

If you are unsure of your property’s soil type, we can conduct a geomechanic analysis and thermal response test to see how well suited your land is to a ground-source heat pump system.

4. CAN I MIX AND MATCH DIFFERENT GROUND-SOURCE HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS IN THE SAME SETUP?

Yes, our systems are designed to be highly compatible so that different ground-source collectors can be combined to make the best use of your available space. Based on your layout, our team can suggest and design a number of setup combinations for maximum efficacy.

5. ARE GROUND-SOURCE HEAT PUMPS SYSTEMS SUSTAINABLE?

Yes, ground-source heat pump systems are an extremely eco-friendly method of heating or cooling a building. Here’s why:

They utilize a renewable and unlimited energy source that is also completely weather independent
They boast highly efficient operation with a 1:4 heat output ratio, producing 4 units of heat for every unit of electricity consumed
No fossil fuels are burned, or air pollutants produced — improving air quality
They are compatible with green electricity from renewable sources, such as solar or wind power
They have low maintenance requirements and a 100+ year service life contributes to minimizing consumption of unnecessary energy and resources in manufacturing

6. HOW LONG DO GROUND-SOURCE HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS LAST?

Pipelife ground-source heating pipes, manholes and manifolds are made from high-quality raw materials and thoroughly tested to ensure a 100+ year service life with minimal maintenance.

7. HOW MUCH DO GROUND-SOURCE HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS COST?

Pipelife ground-source systems are competitively priced. They are all-encompassing solutions fitted to the custom requirements of your building, and the price varies accordingly. Please get in touch with your local Pipelife partner for a detailed offer.

8. WHERE CAN I BUY A GROUND-SOURCE HEAT PUMP SYSTEM?

Our ground-source systems can be bought directly from your local Pipelife partner. We are present in over 20 European countries, all of whom will be happy to field any of your inquiries. For more details, see the list of our operating countries at the bottom of the page.