KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Geothermal heat is one of the perks of living in Klamath Falls, but it’s not without its problems. An upcoming project is aimed at helping make the system more reliable.
Broken geothermal lines are a fact of life in Klamath Falls.
City Manager Nathan Cherpeski explained the chemistry behind the problem: “Because the water’s hot, it creates a reaction with the soil, as that steel heats up and so they really eat from the outside in.”
That reaction takes a toll on even the thickest cast iron pipe. “If they were serving drinking water, they’d last 100 years,” Cherpeski said. “With geothermal, they’re lasting 15.”
Monday night, city council awarded an $815,000 bid to Bob’s Excavating for the replacement of four and a half blocks of geothermal line.
The project runs down an alley that parallels Klamath Avenue.
“We have significant leaks there,” Cherpeski explained. “It’s one of our older lines.”
The new lines will have a wrap around the metal to help prevent deterioration.
Cherpeski said the job should be completed by winter. “I know they’ve already ordered the pipe, and they are to be done no later than November 1st.”
Geothermal heat is used in Klamath Falls for much more than warming buildings.
Other uses include beer brewing, keeping downtown sidewalks clear of snow and ice, and generating electrical power at Oregon Tech.
© 2024 KOBI-TV NBC5. All rights reserved unless otherwise stated.