Geothermal: Installation Requirements | Palmetto Installer Guides

Overview

Every residential geothermal lease program project must include the following four design documents. Submit all items prior to installation for project approval.

Installation is the final operational milestone. The Certified Developer is signaling to LightReach that installation is physically complete, and accurate documentation has been uploaded. Before submitting the installation package, installers will need to complete the Loop Field submission in the portal.

Key Disclaimers:

AVL: Installed equipment must be on the Palmetto AVL, without exception.

Customer Sign-Off: Completed by the customer via their home.palmetto.com account.
- Review and confirm key details about your system through a simple checklist. This ensures that items such as installation completion, system functionality, and job conditions are completed satisfactorily.
- Document will auto-approve after 3 days if not completed by customer.

Requirements

1	Manual J Load Calculation	Whole-house heating and cooling load calculation per ACCA Manual J, room-by-room. Produced in ACCA-approved software (Wrightsoft, Elite RHVAC, or CoolCalc) Block load and room-by-room loads included Design conditions match project ZIP code (ACCA Table 1A) Building inputs documented: orientation, insulation, windows, infiltration
2	Manual S Equipment Selection	Heat pump selection report demonstrating capacity match to Manual J loads at design conditions. Selected heat pump model and AHRI certificate referenced Total and sensible cooling capacity at design EWT vs. Manual J cooling load Heating capacity at design EWT vs. Manual J heating load Cooling oversizing within ACCA limits (≤115% total, humid climates per Manual S) Auxiliary / backup heat sized and documented (required for Northeast projects)
3	Manual D Duct Design	Duct system design or evaluation of existing ductwork. New construction or full replacement: full Manual D design submitted Existing ducts: static pressure test and CFM verification documented Airflow (CFM) per room aligns with Manual J room loads
4	Ground Loop Design Report	Loop sizing and configuration from an accepted geothermal design tool. Produced in an accepted tool (see list below) Loop type, total bore footage, borehole count, and depth specified Design EWT/LWT, flow rate, and antifreeze solution documented Ground thermal conductivity value used and source cited Grout thermal conductivity and pipe specification (HDPE 3608 / 4710 / PEX-A) listed Rule-of-thumb sizing (e.g., feet per ton) is NOT acceptable

Required Photos

Requirement	Description
Equipment Data Plate	Photo must show manufacturer's data plate with serial number, model number, and capacity rating clearly visible
Mechanical Room Wide Shot	Photo must show the complete heat pump unit and surrounding installation area, including connections, clearances, and piping
Flow Center	Photo must show flow center / circulator installation with connections to loop field and indoor unit
Loop Field Photo	Photo must show loop field installation, ideally before backfill. For Loop Field milestone submissions, this is required before backfill.
Electrical Disconnect	Photo must show electrical disconnect for the geothermal system, properly installed and accessible
Thermostat	Photo must show thermostat installed and configured for geothermal system operation

Customer Sign Off

Completed by the customer via their home.palmetto.com account.

Access: The checklist becomes available in the customers app as soon as the project reaches the NTP milestone, customer will receive reminders on the Consumer App.
Complete the Checklist: After the Install Package is submitted, customer will have 3 days to complete their sign-off or reach out to your contractor if changes are needed. If no action is taken within 3 days, the Customer Sign-Off will be marked as complete, and the Install milestone will be finalized.

Click for Visual

Submitting In the Portal:

Installation milestones is a specific section within the portal that requires a full set of uploads and a formal submission.

Installation: Formal submission section + button

The Installation section is clearly marked in the Palmetto portal. Follow these easy steps to submit.

Click here for a Step-by-Step guide

Click on the + Install Package

2. Confirm equipment & materials

3. Upload all photos in this section:

4. Check the Project Attestation and click "Submit for Review"

Rejection Process

Statuses for rejections range from below. Once all necessary items are corrected, upload the adjusted document(s) and click the Submit button.

Not Completed: Item not uploaded
Missing Documentation: Missing part of a required item
Illegible Documentation: Blurry or low resolution uploads
Incorrect Documentation: Wrong item uploaded

Section	Flag Reason	Issue	Requirement
Customer Contract/ LightReach Contract	Incorrect Documentation	Incorrect Address	More than one primary address was added to the customer's Palmetto contract. Please void the quote, edit the address on the account to reflect the correct information, and have the customer re-sign.
Install Contract	Missing Documentation Illegible Documentation Incorrect Documentation	Install contract missing Missing or Incorrect total financed amount	To clear this flag, provide an install contract or work order that clearly states the total cost of the installation. Total cost should equal the amount financed by Palmetto ± $100. Deviations of more than $100 will be rejected for further clarification from the partner.
Load Calculation	Missing Documentation Illegible Documentation Incorrect Documentation	Load Calculation not present Incorrect Address or Address Not Provided Full report not provided Unapproved software	The address/ location where the load calculation was performed must be clearly stated on the uploaded documentation. The address on your load calculation should always match the address shown on the Palmetto account. Upload your complete load calculation report in PDF format. Ensure the document includes the customer’s address, total heat loss, and total heat gain (broken down by sensible and latent gain)