Heated Driveways

Heated Driveways

Did you ever hear your dad say, "Shut that door! Are you trying to heat the whole outdoors?"
Well, today a whole industry has sprung up with just that goal in mind.

HEATED DRIVEWAYS

Are you tired of pulling out of your driveway in the wintertime and getting stuck? Do you own a business and run the risk of a slip-and-fall law suit due to icy and snowy sidewalks, stairs or access ramps? Maybe you're just sick of playing snow patrol in a tiresome attempt to keep your driveway clear. In any case, low-voltage or hydronic radiant snow melting technology is the solution.

Taking their lead from radiant floor heating in the home, many new buildings are taking advantage of outdoor radiant heat for walkways and driveways. The system makes sense for cold climates - it's a great alternative to introducing salts and chemicals in to the environment when trying to melt snow and ice, and family members and visitors aren't at risk of slips and falls due to icy walkways.

Heated Driveways for Home and Business

Homeowners and businesses alike are warming up to the idea of outdoor heating. Homeowners find that they can save valuable time and effort during the cold weather season when their sidewalks and driveways are clear of hazardous ice and snow. Shoveling a path or digging an automobile out of the snow will soon be a thing of the past. More importantly, they avoid the risk of personal injury from moving heavy snow and ice. Business complexes and individual companies save substantial costs on snow removal and de-icing, while minimizing potential accidents, by ensuring that their steps, sidewalks and open areas are free from snow and ice.

I'm originally from the East, a small town, Hollyoak, Mass., and when we were kids, we thought we were the snow removal system! Our mom use to get us up at 5:00am every weekday to go out and clear the driveway before going to school so our dad could get out and go to work. Our house sat 53 yards back from the street! There are five of us kids, however, my oldest brother and one of my younger brothers and myself were the only one's old enough for a few years, to do the shoveling. We use to hang our two youngest brothers by their ankles to try and make them grow faster so they could help. Ahh yes, the good ol days.

Ok, enough of memory lane.

How to install a heated driveway or patio system

Heated Driveways
What are heated driveways?
The obvious answer is, "a driveway that is heated," but what actually heats the driveway? The best driveway heating systems are radiant heating systems similar to indoor floor heating systems. There are both electric and hydronic radiant heating systems that can be used to heat outdoor surfaces. Electric systems use an electric cable, and hydronic systems pump hot water through plastic tubing. The heating elements are compacted in the surface and use resistant heating to heat the surrounding surface. Most systems use automatic sensors to turn on the systems when it begins to snow. Electric systems tend to be more efficient, require less maintenance, and heat surfaces quicker. Hydronic heated driveways systems are usually slightly more expensive to purchase and install, but the operational are usually lower. However, unless you’re heating extremely large areas, the advantages of electric systems tend to out weight those of hydronic systems. Both systems have their advantages, however, the electric systems are gaining a lot of interest due to their price, ease of installation, and threatening future of the cost of fuel.

Where and When can you install a heated driveway system?

Driveway heating systems can be installed in almost any location, in almost any medium (including concrete, asphalt, under pavers, etc.), and at almost anytime of the year (depending on the medium). The most popular and ideal time to install a system, is during new construction, and during the summer. However, as long as the conditions are fair enough to install the driveway, there are no limitations when installing the system.

Benefits of Heated Driveways or Sidewalks

Cost Savings: Saves you the annual expense of snow removal or de-icing chemicals Time savings - Saves you time and effort spent on managing snow manually Maintenance Free - Once installed, fully automated outdoor heating systems require no maintenance Minimizes personal injury risk. Provides peace of mind by eliminating ice related accidents at your home or office Preserves your property - Slows down surface decay due to damage caused by snow plows, shovels, salting and other chemical snow preventives.

CONVENIENCE

Retire your snow shovel and relax in the mornings by installing a driveway heating system in your home or business. Snow melting technology is designed to conveniently and automatically eliminate snow and ice buildup day and night, so you don't have to.

COST EFFECTIVE

Most snow melting systems are designed to operate only when necessary and can be programmed to turn on automatically when snow is falling using advanced temperature and snow sensing controls. This also makes it easy to calculate operating expenses. For example, in the U.S. an area of 285 square feet at the average power rate will cost less than 40 cents per continuous sixty minutes of operation time!

The cost of a snowmelt system ranges between $12 and $21 per square foot of area heated. Factors that affect the final cost include: whether or not you must remove an existing driveway; the price of concrete (which varies depending on the location of the project and market demand); the installation labor; what type of control system you select, and the size of the system required. Obviously, while you are at it, you can also heat sidewalks, ramps and exterior stairs if you want an entirely maintenance-free design.

VALUE

Heating your driveway with a snow melting system adds value to your home, and increases the life of your driveway by preventing chemicals, shovels, and snow plows from damaging its surface. In addition your investment will set your mind at ease knowing your customers, employees, friends and family can avoid injuries sustained from slipping on icy driveways and walkways. An automated snow melting system from creates free time to the owner- yielding another very nice dividend!

What runs a radiant snowmelt system?
At the heart of most radiant snowmelt systems is a boiler....
A boiler heats the water in most radiant snowmelt systems, and pumps circulate it through the tubing -- a form of radiant heating, but for the outdoors! The whole process is regulated by controls, so that heat won't be wasted. Control schemes vary in sophistication. At the low end are manually operated "on/off" controls, while the more sophisticated control schemes are automated.

Note that, while most radiant snowmelt systems run this way, not all do. The Webmaster for Heatizon Systems wrote in to inform me of a type of radiant snowmelt system that's not based on heated water. His company deals in radiant snowmelt systems that are based, instead, on "low voltage electric radiant heat technology."

Remember that while pricey, the advantages of a snowmelt system extend beyond never having to shovel. Your home will reap additional benefits such as never again having anyone get stuck in your driveway, providing a much safer, slip-free situation, avoiding the use of environmentally damaging chemicals and adding value for resale.