Heated Driveway News

Radiant Heated Driveways - The Driveway of the Future

When shopping for a home, how many of us have thought of looking for a house with a radiant heated driveway installed? Okay, it might not be the first thing you think of when organizing your criteria for a new home, but maybe it should make the list somewhere. Heated driveways are a convenience that won’t go unnoticed for sure. Imagine getting up in the morning and seeing all the new fallen snow and then seeing your driveway totally clear of snow and ice.

Radiant driveway snow melting systems generally use a form of electric radiant heat. They utilize an electric heat cable that is laid in the asphalt or concrete, under the finish surface. Sensors installed near the surface detect when the snowmelt system is needed and current is applied to the heat cable to warm the driveway and melt the snow. How much easier could it get than that? It’s a modern convenience that is a sign of the times. And because these systems run on electricity, they are environmentally friendly, eliminating the need for corrosive salt and harmful snowmelt chemicals, which can damage nearby plants and grass.

Heated driveways will only get more popular as more people become aware of their affordability and reliable performance. No more concerns about whether snow and ice will prevent you from getting up your driveway when you get home. Just don’t forget you loaned your snow blower to your neighbor. He’s probably not going to remind you, especially after he notices your snow-free, heated driveway.

Keeping Your Driveway Clear of Snow and Ice

I just ventured in from the frozen outdoors. The roads are packed with ice and the trees are laden with frost. My driveway has a rather steep incline, but good traction usually does the trick and allows me to pull up to my home. However, However, ascending my driveway's slope during winter time can often be an adventure. Truth is, my driveway is an ideal candidate for an electric heated driveway snow melting system.

Driveway snowmelt systems are the ticket during winter in any areas that regularly see the icy stuff. Every time you drive over snow you pack it further into dense, slippery ice. How nice would it be to not have that concern? With a radiant heated driveway snowmelt system there is one less thing to have to worry about when you are getting ready to head out in the morning (or pull up to your house in the evening). When morning hits, you get up and look out to discover that it snowed again. Then you look at the driveway and it is as clean as if it were July. You get in your car and drive off. Driveway snow melting has provided us with an easy life. It really wasn’t that long ago when you would have had to break out the snow shovel to clear the way.

A heated driveway system is a big asset in many areas and it isn’t that difficult to install. It will pay for itself in time savings over and over, as well as increase the value of your home. It can even be installed over existing asphalt driveways. Danfoss GX heat cable comes pre-spaced in mats that can be conveniently rolled out over the surface of the driveway. Hot asphalt can be applied directly over the top and vwalah, your icy worries are a thing of the past. Take a look into the many forms of electric radiant heat. You will find systems for virtually every application, both interior and exterior, that can make your life much easier and more comfortable.

Spoil Yourself with a Heated Driveway

Now would be the best time of year to show off for your neighbors. While they are fighting that hard packed snow and ice, you are driving in and out of your “snow-free driveway” with ease because you installed a heated driveway system. Driveway snow melting isn’t all that new, but these driveway heating systems have never been so easy or convenient to install. A heated driveway efficiently utilizes radiant heat, the same type of systems that can be installed to heat floors.

A radiant heated driveway is usually best achieved by installing the industry-leading Danfoss GX cable and embedding a small amount of asphalt or concrete over the top. An automated sensor maintains a clear driveway by turning on only when it senses temperatures and precipitation conditions when snow could be present. It will be hard to not chuckle a little when you pull in your clean driveway and your neighbors are out shoveling snow. Try not to let them that smirk on your face. In harsh winter-weather climates, these radiant snowmelt systems have evolved from luxury to near-necessity. Radiant snow melting technology is a modern convenience that is very handy this time of year.

Driveway heating is an extension of electric radiant heating, which is becoming more and more common in homes as people learn about the advantages. The more you have experienced these systems, the more likely you are to have it in your next home.

Save Yourself Time Through Automated Snow Removal

One of the more unpleasant things about living in colder climates is going out in the morning and finding your car iced over. It doesn’t need to be that way. Snow melt systems are available utilizing electric radiant heat. Everyone on the street will envy the guy with the heated driveway.         

Snow melting systems have sensors that detect when it is needed. Once they switch on it doesn’t take long for the snow to disappear. Sure, a garage is nice but it's even nicer with a radiant heated driveway. Heated driveways utilize durable electric cable embedded in the concrete. Danfoss GX cable is the recommended heat cable, and one of the longest lasting, most reliable heat cable available. In addition to its affordability, it carries an industry-leading manufacturer warranty. Snow and ice melting has never been easier.

The heat from an electric radiant heated driveway up will also help to keep your vehicle from getting that difficult to remove crunchy ice build up. Not only will you not have to shovel snow and ice but you save time and reduce the chance of damaging your driveway or car by chiseling that ice off.

There probably isn’t much excuse these days when building a new home in snowy areas to not install a heated driveway. It's easy and affordable to install, not to mention it will increase the value of your property. Believe me, installing a radiant heated driveway is a decision you won't regret. What a convenience to walk out and jump in your car and take off. Be careful though, the street won’t have one. 

Snow Removal doesn’t Have to be a Back Breaker

It’s that time of year again. The season’s have changed. Remember what’s it’s like to go out in the morning and be snowed in? If you don’t, Mother Nature will soon deliver a reminder. Shoveling snow doesn’t have to be a time consuming task; that’s old fashion these days. Install a radiant heated driveway and make the job an automated affair.

If you aren’t familiar with heated driveways, grab a seat, it won’t take long. Heated driveways are the new thing. Coming in electric and hydronic (using water circulating through tubing), driveways can be heated to melt snow for you with a push of a button, or automatically. How much more convenient could it get? Actually, pushing a button is even a bit of a stretch. The system's snow sensor will do that for you. Once it detects precipitation and temperatures are below 38 degrees, the heated driveway will switch itself on, eliminating any snow accumulation from your driveway.

Driveway snow melting systems aren’t really that new. They have been around for years but it’s a little funny that people don’t often think of that when looking at a potential future residence. A heated driveway could make the difference between getting up the driveway and not.

Strange how far we have come in just a few generations. Mom and dad had to walk to school in the snow and grandma and grandpa had to do it uphill both ways, and now we don’t even have to shovel snow anymore. Driveway snow melting systems are becoming the convenience to have. Go ahead, loan your snow shovel to your neighbors. It doesn't really matter if they ever return it.

We are clearly into the time of year where the snow is upon us. When I was out shoveling snow off the driveway a few days ago I thought, wow, I don’t really need to be doing this. Oh sure it was great exercise, but I prefer a good runaround on a racquetball court as opposed to shoveling snow from the driveway. Why not turn your existing driveway into a heated driveway with the installation of a radiant snow melting system?

Retrofitting your driveway with radiant heat is not a major remodel project that you need to avoid. It really isn’t that difficult. Your existing asphalt driveway surface can be “grooved” and a grid of radiant heat cable can be laid out. (As a contractor, I can attest to the fact that Danfoss GX cable is by far superior to other heat cables.)

The cable can be embedded into the surface and as little as a half inch of asphalt covers the surface. You then have a radiant snow melting system. Get up in the morning and drive out to work. The bad news is that one excuse for being late has just been removed.

Radiant heated driveways are a nice way to simplify your life. Automated sensors switch on when the temperature and conditions indicate snow, turning your driveway into an energy-efficient radiant snow melting system. And you thought it was just a driveway.