Could you run geothermal tubing through the walls of a concrete house?

Question

Part of the selling point of a concrete home is the thermal mass of the walls. Would it make sense to run what amounts to geothermal tubing through the walls (easiest w/ a round concrete home), hook up a heat pump, and heat the house that way? Seems like it would take a lot of coordination between the HVAC people and the foundation-pouring/concrete folks, but also seems like it would be very efficient. This is something I would have in mind for a future home to be build when I retire.

Answer 1

Hi Cap
Actually there are a number of systems on the market, mostly used in monolithic slab construction in homes, that are exactly what you're asking.
As a general rule, the radiant heat from these systems, utilizing a heat exchange system to circulate hot fluid through tubing in-bedded in the floor slab of a home, do a very efficient job, and in my experience, are only in the floor.
Since heat rises, any heat radiating from the floor will heat the entire room, making lines in the walls unnecessary, and causing problems with air pockets and pumping the fluid inherent in having a closed loop system moving fluid vertically and through 180 degree bends on the vertical. The heat will still rise, just next to the wall, not across the room.
This Old House has featured this system in a couple of projects, and I've been the form carpentry forman on a few of these jobs. The system is nearly maintenence free, and can be a feature that pays for it's self in many parts of the world in colder climes.
A little research in your area should lead you to find a plumbing/heating contractor who can give you specifics and prices in your part of the country.
Good Luck in your project.

Answer 2

When Hoover Dam was built they ran cooling tubes through it. There was a refridgeration plant there that made ice water to be pumped through the tubes to remove the heat caused by the concretes curing process. If it worked there then I guess it would work on a house.