Geothermal
Yoder Drilling
Founded in 1962, Yoder Drilling & Geothermal was an early contributor to the development of geothermal as an alternative energy power source.
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corporate profile | geothermal
oder Drilling
by Joel Cornell
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& Geothermal. When oil prices skyrocket, natural gas becomes depleted and solar power fluctuates, it’s only natural that customers begin to turn to a source of energy that is 100 percent reliable and efficient: geothermal. This source has been the focus and driving force behind the success of Ohio’s Yoder Drilling & Geothermal. Christian Yoder and son Daniel founded their company in 1962 with three employees, focusing on drilling for coal mines and rock quarries using overburden drilling and blasting techniques. Due to the wide array of geology in Ohio, the business had to specialize in being a highly adaptable drilling service. In 1989, with Daniel’s son Tim now leading the charge, the Yoders were approached to serve as drillers for a geothermal project, back when geothermal was first being developed into a viable form of sustainable energy used in small scale commercial and residential markets. “The rigs that we designed and built were very adaptable to different kinds of formation drilling in residential areas,” Tim said. “The coal mining market in Ohio was slowing down, and we realized the broad range of opportunities that would become available by diversifying our company into geothermal
geothermal | corporate profile
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corporate profile | geothermal
Project spotlight: A typical residential geothermal loop piping installation at an existing home. The entire area used for the system requires a small footprint when installed vertically. A series of holes are required to transfer energy to and from the ground, providing the heating and cooling for the home. Yoder Drilling & Geothermal, Inc. specializes in residential installations for homes like this, minimizing damage to existing lawn. Bryan Gerber operates this drill rig, which was custom designed and built by Yoder Drilling & Geothermal, Inc. specifically for geothermal loop installations in residential neighborhoods.
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enterprises. Our existing rigs and extensive knowledge of drilling made us perfect for that pursuit.” Since then, Yoder’s Drilling & Geothermal has continued to specialize in drilling and installing geothermal loops. They leave the work of installing heat transfer and delivery systems to HVAC contractors, allowing Yoder to focus on the loop installation. “In the early ‘90s, due to the economical nature of geothermal systems, utility companies were giving homeowners rebates and HVAC installers were eager to work with us. This allowed us to focus on our specialty and help move residential geothermal technology forward,” Tim said, “just as the desire for sustainable geothermal energy systems drove our company forward.” Currently serving as the company’s President, Tim Yoder manages general oversight of both the technical and engineering aspects of day-to-day company operation. He spends time reviewing each project as it comes in, and also helps to dictate everything from pricing to company vision. In keeping with the family tradition, his brother-in-law Greg Beach serves as Vice President, managing various behind-the-scenes operations. Though still doing business in the mining industry with their experience in overburden drilling, this only accounts for a small amount of Yoders’ work. The crew at YD&G specializes in field and mineral exploration, specifically for coal, limestone and clay. However, due to the adaptability of their drilling rigs, most of the company’s work exists in the residential geothermal sector. Specializing in the geothermal industry as a loop contractor, YD&G works with HVAC installers and homeowners as the subcontractor. “Our partnerships with furnace installers and other contractors have given us a broad base of clients. The goal is to take our knowledge of drilling and loop installation and use it to remove the uncertainty that contractors and customers may experience when installing geothermal systems,” Tim said. “We let them install furnaces and ventilation, while we complete the work that the HVAC dealers aren’t always 100 percent familiar with. This keeps everyone doing what they do best.” The northern third of the Ohio region is glaciated till, meaning there is an unpredictable mix of gravel, sand, clay and river bottom that overlays the bedrock from 10-200 feet. Thus, the reverse circulation air rotary rigs that Yoder designed and built are very adaptable and invaluable to their work in the often diverse terrain involved in residential installations. Building on their reputation for quality and flexibility, Yoder maintains the entire range of skills necessary to complete geothermal system installations. They drill and install the underground loop, excavate and install piping to the interior furnace, and finish by flushing and filling the entire geothermal system with an environmentally friendly 20 percent methanol and water solution. Their specialization in the niche of residential and small commercial geothermal system installation means Yoders has the capacity to install over 430 systems every year. In past years, geothermal technology was relatively new to the residential market. Around 80 percent of YD&G’s work was on new home construction. However, because of the recent downturn in housing construction, new home installations have decreased to around 20 percent of their workload. Today existing home installations make up 80 percent of their geothermal business, mainly from homeowners wanting to upgrade from their costly gas and fuel systems. “In these instances,” Tim explained, “the biggest hurdle was and still is sharing with the homeowner the actual process of drilling and excavating to install a geothermal loop system in an already landscaped yard. We have to be very agile and adept at doing our work fast and doing it right, all the while causing the least damage possible to existing gardens, lawns, trees, sheds, etc. Drilling is not always a clean process.” YD&G is always quite careful not to damage the aesthetic properties of their client’s site, but even more precautions Fall 2010 5
corporate profile | geothermal
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“The future of geothermal energy has unlimited potential.” are taken in not damaging the ground water and subterranean aquifers. “We always take extra safety measures in guarding such things. Gardens and lawns can come back, but that’s not the same story for our ground water.” In the mid 1990s, Tim worked with the National Ground Water Association to put together that board’s first set of recommended practices concerning geothermal systems. He is also on a board that gives similar advice and standard practice suggestions to the Ohio Health Department and EPA. “I love the idea of making use of untapped sources of energy in a 100 percent efficient way, letting our geothermal systems simply be a part of what’s already in the ground. Our main focus is, not to disturb or destroy,” Tim said. In addition to reducing their carbon footprint on their own, Yoders’ geothermal systems also sell themselves. “They give home owners a geothermal loop field that reduces both their consumption of energy and their utility cost,” Tim said. “The future of geothermal energy has unlimited potential.” Due to its cleanliness and efficiency, geothermal systems are no longer “alternative” supplies of energy. As opposed to solar or wind energy, geothermal energy from the ground is constantly available year round.
“Simply, the sun just doesn’t shine all the time in Ohio, especially in the winter. It’s the same with wind energy, especially with terrain like we have,” Tim said. “That consistency is vital when you’re supplying energy to a family’s home. “We use high density polyethylene loops heat fusing all connections. This piping has a standard 50-year warranty, but honestly we OPPOSITE PAGE: Bryan Gerber operates this drill rig, which was custom designed and built by Yoder Drilling & Geothermal, Inc. specifically for geothermal loop installations in residential neighborhoods. ABOVE: Evan Gerber drills through a basement wall with a 2” core drill to install supply and return piping for the geothermal furnace that carries fluid to and from the vertical bore holes. Photo courtesy of Yoder Drilling & Geothermal, Inc.
GEO-HYDRO SUPPLY Geo-Hydro Supply Ltd draws from over 20 years of geothermal loop installation experience to provide the finest products and quality customer service. Their vision is to be a one-stop shop for geothermal loop installers like Yoder Drilling & Geothermal. Geo-Hydro Supply doesn’t just offer a line of geothermal products, they specialize in them! For more information, visit www.geohydrosupply.com. Fall 2010 7
corporate profile | geothermal
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geothermal | corporate profile
don’t really know how long it would take for the piping system to deteriorate; it could be much longer than 50 years. Geothermal heat-pump furnaces have been shown to last longer than their gas equivalents and even if the furnace eventually fails you can easily have it replaced, and then reflush and refill the loop system. Once the loop is installed properly, it is a permanent asset. It’s a onetime investment that increases the value of the homeowner’s property.” One forward thinking developer working with Yoder Drilling & Geothermal is purchasing geothermal loop field installations for each and every empty lot in his new development. “We are predrilling and installing geothermal loop piping for each future residence,” he said. He gets a discount for bulk installations, and the future residents have the attractive incentive of a clean, inexpensive, reliable geothermal heating and cooling system with the loop already installed. Additionally, YD&G is doing commercial work, including a new animal shelter in Jefferson County, Ohio and a fire station in Northeast Ohio. Yoder Drilling & Geothermal has over 30 employees, many with more than 20 years with the company. Altogether, they have installed more than 6,000 geothermal closed loop systems for customers in their region. Their service area extends through the eastern half of Ohio, West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania. Their work force includes 10 drilling rigs, six specially adapted for geothermal drilling and two excavating and hook-up crews. For more information, you can find them online at www.yodergeothermal.com. ELT OPPOSITE PAGE: Steve Limbacher and Evan Gerber heat fusing polyethylene pipe fittings to create a manifold that will distribute fluid to each vertical bore hole piping from the supply and return lines. Photo courtesy of Yoder Drilling & Geothermal, Inc. ABOVE: Steve Limbacher installs sleeves that will hold the supply and return piping for the geothermal system. Photo courtesy of Yoder Drilling & Geothermal, Inc.
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