Heated Driveway News

Install Driveway Heating in the Summer

True, it may sound crazy to the sun lovers soaking in the warm rays of the lazy days of summer but it may not be crazy to start thinking about the cold coming months. In fact, we may do well to avoid focus on those harsh temperatures looming altogether. Sadly, pushing those thoughts away won’t make Mother Nature any more soft when it comes to passing the buck to Jack Frost and letting winter rage.

To soften the blow, why not think warm while it’s still warm outside. Now is the perfect time to install a radiant driveway heating system . A driveway snowmelt system is going to be more affordable in the off months, plus it will definitely be easier to install a snow melting system when there isn’t actually any snow to contend with.

Summer is the smart time to think about warmth and to prepare yourself and your home for the inevitable blowing flurries and the pelting ice. The onslaught of winter will be made so much easier to tolerate if your home is set to combat the snow with a heated driveway. You can think warm now, with the sun blazing on your bare shoulders and you can think warm in the months to come as the snow hits your heated driveway and melts into manageable warm drops of water.

Install Driveway Heating in the Off Season

Are we really so desperate that we have resorted to stealing lobsters from casinos? Sounds like something I made up, doesn’t it? Sadly, the red-faced stoop in this story got caught trying to paw 91 lobsters from an Atlantic City casino kitchen. I understand fully the times we are in and desperate times may seem like a call for desperate measures…but stealing overpriced seafood seems a bit over the top. This newborn fishy smelling criminal will spend four years in prison for the crime, proving that crime doesn’t pay.

However, making smart investments in your personal life does pay. Installing a driveway heating system in the off season is an investment that keeps paying you. You won’t even have to wash the fishy smell off your hands.

Heated driveways are more affordable in the spring and summer months. This logic follows the same smart shopper who dives into their local super store the day after Halloween, hoping for a good deal on candy. Simply put, a snow melting system is more affordable when there is no snow. Ah hah, I bet our lobster thief never thought of that idea. Heated driveway systems are an affordable, energy efficient investment that helps protect the life of your driveway and increase the value of your home. If you purchase a driveway heating system now, you might even want to splurge and enjoy a lobster dinner in your home (after you’ve paid for them first…naturally).

Prudent Thinking, Prudent Spending (Part II) 

Heated driveways are highly effective, yet low maintenance, low impact systems. Once you install a heated driveway, you’ll find that it practically becomes invisible in its operation. The snow sensor signals the control unit when the temperatures and precipitation levels warrant its use, activating the system only when it is needed. Basically speaking, you can install a heated driveway and forget about it year round. (Of course, you'll be reminded that it's there every time you look outside on a snowy day and see your nice, clear driveway.) Many people install heated driveways in second homes where it is not possible to remove snow after each storm. Having a heated driveway provides the peace of mind that you’ll never be blocked when entering your property or have to dig yourself out when exiting.

Having a heated driveway is safer for your health and easier on your driveway and can extend the driveway's life span. The health benefits of a radiant heated driveway are obvious, as the need to perform back-breaking work each time a storm hits is eliminated. The convenient electric radiant heat goes to work for you under your pavement. No more shovels, no more digging out, no more sore necks, backs, or wrists.

Generations moving into their golden years no longer have to worry about moving into a condo where the joys of a garage and a yard are left in suburbia. Having a snowmelt system installed means even if your bones and aching back no longer wish to haul out the snow shovel, you can still live where the snow falls and not worry about manually removing the snow from your driveways and sidewalks.

Another benefit of a heated driveway is that without shovels or snow plows constantly scraping the surface of your driveway, the lifetime of your driveway increases. Driveway heating systems also eliminate the need for salt or ice melt which can corrode and damage the driveway as well as harm nearby plants and grass.

If you are environmentally conscientious, installing a heated driveway can help save the planet. Yes, it’s true, there is one more way to love Mother Earth. Using an intelligent snow sensor allows the driveway heating system to operate only when needed, thereby sparing unnecessary energy usage. Having an electric heated driveway also allows you to avoid harsh chemicals or products used to melt snow, scrape ice, or keep driveways clear.

After putting prudent thought behind prudent spending a good place to start when considering whether or not to install a heated driveway system is by locating a trusted product backed up with customer satisfaction. Warmzone's renowned ClearZone radiant heat cable is known as the premier snow and ice melt radiant heat product. Using ClearZone cable for your driveway heating projects gives you unmatched durability. This cable can be safely installed in new concrete pours and under harsh, high temperature new asphalt construction projects. The heat cable is easy to install, and once activated offers a fast response time compared to other radiant snow melt systems on the market. With the companion use of the high-performance snow sensor the system is fully automated and essentially maintenance free.

For those lucky few living in Florida, we gaze enviably on your sunny winters. However with the popularity of electric heated driveways throughout the country, homeowners are discovering the convenience and long term benefits of having a dependable snow melt system, making winter a bit more bearable for the rest of us.

Prudent Thinking, Prudent Spending

How many of us plow out of the other side of winter saying to ourselves, “I think I’ll move to Florida?” After the back breaking, agonizing work of shoveling snow and clearing driveways and countless sidewalks, the Sunshine State with its charming flower, the Orange Blossom, seems like a blissful way to survive next year’s snowy months. Sadly, most of us don’t have the luxury of picking up our lives and shifting to greener, sunnier pastures where orange blossoms, well, blossom. Winter is almost behind us this year and the memory of that hard work is still fresh in our minds. Right now is the most prudent time to start thinking about installing a heated driveway snow melting system.

As the final signs of winter move behind us for another year, many products go on sale in the hope of clearing shelves for brighter, cheerier summer products. Snow shovels and sleds are the clearance “item of the week” for many hardware stores as they hope to make room for plastic swimming pools and sand toys. The same can be said for radiant heated driveways. Installing a heated driveway during the off season can always save you money. It’s like rushing out to buy Christmas lights for your house, the day AFTER Christmas. There is always a good deal to be found.

What type of driveway heating is right for you? The answer is, “it depends.” The bottom line is that installing radiant heated driveways is easier than ever and very affordable, making it a prudent way to spend in this tight economy. Heated driveways can be installed in new construction or under existing driveways and sidewalks, so maybe you won’t have to move to Florida after all. Consider the following:

There are two types of radiant heat for your driveway, electronic and hydronic. Both systems require heating elements be installed beneath the surface of your driveway. Electric driveway heating systems utilize durable long-line heating cables while hydronic systems generate heated water which is pumped through plastic tubing. Electric driveway heating systems are generally cheaper and easier to install than hydronic systems. Electric heating is ideal for home use, while hydronic is better suited for larger heating projects in excess of 4000 square feet.

Heated driveway systems are highly customizable and can be installed in any phase and configuration of home construction. It doesn’t matter if you plan on concrete, asphalt, or brick, a heated driveway system uses radiant heat to warm the surface you choose. As a plus, if you live in an existing dwelling where the driveways and sidewalks are already in place, radiant heated driveways can easily be installed. Using concrete saw-cut technology, appropriately measured grooves are cut into the concrete (or asphalt). Once the grooves have been cut, radiant heating cable is laid into the grooves, sealed using an epoxy topcoat and driveway heating becomes a reality. Weather is rarely a factor for installation, so there are few limitations on the timing of placing a driveway snow melting system. A side note to be aware of is that it is recommended that all electrical connections to the master control box be handled by a qualified electrician.

The cost to install a heated driveway is minimal compared to the long term benefits. Electric snow melting systems have three basic components: the heating element, the controller, and the snow sensor. Thanks to DMC-100 master control unit, which was recently developed for use by Warmzone, the snowmelt system features fully automated operation and manual override capability, as well as energy-efficient driveway heating. An outdoor snow sensor is connected to the master control unit and is programmed to automatically activate the radiant driveway heating cable when the sensor plate detects precipitation and temperatures are below 38 degrees Fahrenheit. With this smart technology you never have to worry about running the system needlessly, thereby eliminating energy waste and saving you from high operational costs.

A home that boasts the convenience of a heated driveway system has added property value. While the initial monetary outlay exists to install a snow melting system, installing radiant driveway heat ends up being a smart investment in the long run as you reap the property value benefits and the added convenience of never buying and replacing snow shovels, blowers, ice melt, ice picks, salt and other harsh chemicals.

(Continued. See Part II )

Keeping Customers Happy Each Season is Simple

Keeping your customers happy is usually in the top five priorities (and if you are smart, it’s most likely number one) when running a business. Without them your business is sunk. If you operate your business in a harsh winter climate and customers have a need to visit your location regularly, installing heated driveways and walk-ways is a sure fire way to keep them coming back for more.

Businesses like banks, fast food restaurants or car washes all have drive-through areas or driving bays that would benefit from a radiant snowmelt system. Installing a heated driveway system reduces the manual labor required to keep precious business arteries open and clear for customers. Snowmelt systems also cut down on the need for salt or other harsh chemicals, which is especially critical for a car wash. Customers visiting a car wash in the winter months are looking to rid their vehicle of those products and would certainly appreciate not picking up more while patronizing your car wash bays.

Using a radiant snowmelt system is not limited to those aforementioned businesses. Snow melting systems are an added benefit to any walkway, as they are easily installed under sidewalks and driveways. Using the technology of electric or radiant heat increases the comfort and safety of your property – and makes you much less vulnerable to potential liability issues. A snow melting system will insure your walkways and driveways are always clear of snow and ice and ready to be used by each and every one of your valuable customers.

What if NASA Could Install Heated Driveways/Runways?

Last week the space shuttle, Discovery, returned to earth after a 13-day mission. Following a few minor weather delays, the cloudy skies in Cape Canaveral, Florida, finally allowed the Discovery crew to touch down at the Kennedy Space Center. The amazing ability to travel through space got me thinking how thrilling it would be to see a space shuttle lift off with all its turbo boosters spewing thick clouds of smoke. Sadly, I do not dwell in any state near Florida, so my chances are slim of this becoming a reality, unless I travel across the country. It made me start to wonder; “What if NASA could install a snow melting system on runways and launch pads across the country?”

Think about the joy and marvel youngsters would experience if their home state was able to host a shuttle landing. Even winter-locked states could theoretically brag about the upcoming landing of the future shuttle, North Pole. Electric radiant heat systems used to heat our driveways to keep them clear of snow seems like a great solution for a NASA approved shuttle landings.

Admittedly, my imagination may be getting the best of me. Weather is just one of the millions of considerations, I’m quite sure, when launching a rocket into space. But for today, it is fun to imagine a giant heated “driveway” at a NASA facility somewhere near the Rocky Mountains, housing the next shuttle ready to fly and ready to land on the world's largest snow melting system. Hey, if we can put a man on the moon, who’s to say that one day my dream of witnessing a launch from my cold climate can’t come true. Technology brought us space travel and it brought us electric radiant heat. Maybe one day they will unite somewhere other than in my overactive imagination.

Radiant Snow Melting Systems Keep Snow at Bay

Radiant snow melting systems are a muscle-saving way to put the NO in snow. It happens every time the snow flies at many homes across the country; a small curse is heard pointed in the direction of the gloomy skies each time a snow flake lands its mark on an unheated driveway. Homeowners watch in dismay as the skies open up and dump white, harmless looking bits of snow crystals on their sidewalks and driveways. Shovels and snow blowers are taxed and so are backs, necks, and arms. Sure, it can be beautiful, but many people just want a way to say “no thanks” to snowy days and back-breaking efforts to clear their property.

Heated driveways are in vogue now and with great reason. Installing a driveway snow melting system saves time and money for every homeowner smart enough to add it to their property. Home values increase, winter blues decrease, and screaming body parts silence in homes that offer the perk of an automated radiant snow melting system.

Smart and savvy builders and home buyers are including snow melting systems in many large scale new construction projects as well as single dwellings. A heated driveway can be installed after construction as well, so the ease and affordable comfort is not merely limited to new construction.

If you live in an unforgiving climate where Mother Nature rules with white, then perhaps a snow melting system might help make the winters a bit more bearable and allow you to finally put the NO in snow!

In an Economic Downturn Purchases Have to Count

Economic downturns such as the one we find ourselves elbow deep in, dictate wiser, well-researched and more cost-effective purchases. The weak dollar and tighter credit allowances no longer allow the penny-pinching consumer the luxury of frivolous spending sprees. Each purchase needs to count and provide an investment for the future.

An inexpensive investment and smart way to add value to your home is by installing a heated driveway. Once installed, an automated snow melting system offers low operation costs in the long run, helping you lower your bottom line on home expenses. A heated driveway with an area of 300 square feet operates for under 50-cents per continuous hour of operation. The snow melting system generally only takes a few hours to clear your driveway when a storm hits, and automatically shuts off when it is no longer needed.

Driveway heating is an investment that has proven results. Not only does it allow you some free time with your family, it is a proven way to protect the life of your driveway by protecting it from harsh chemicals and salt used in traditional snow removal. One of the best features is the rugged, technologically advanced snow sensor, which triggers the radiant heating system only when needed, making driveway heating a fully automated process, so you can stay inside where it’s warm and count the dollars you are saving as you watch the snow fall. Or instead of shoveling for hours after a Nor’ Easter or powerful lake effect storm you can spend time relaxing inside with your family.

The peace of mind that comes with making a smart purchase is invaluable right now. We are all looking for ways to ride out this stormy economic climate, still enjoy some creature comforts, and invest in wise products, such as a heated driveway, that will enable our future to look bright.

Late For Work; Don’t Worry About Shoveling Your Driveway

There will never be an easy way to explain to the “boss” why you are late once again. Spilled oatmeal on the carpet, miss-matched socks, alarm clock malfunctioned, iron went caput, car wouldn’t start, shoveled a foot of snow off your driveway. All these countless excuses may still need to be repeated, save one. You can eliminate snow shoveling from your “shucks, sorry I’m late again BECAUSE” routine. Installing a heated driveway is now easier than ever. It’s also a cost-effective, proven home re-sell enhancing feature. Equipping a home with a technologically sound and savvy snow melting system has become a popular and affordable way to beat the snow. Look around at your neighbors’ homes. Chances are if they are lucky enough to have a heated driveway, they are never late for work, indoor soccer practice, or the ballet because of snow shoveling. Their driveways remain clear and clean of sticking snow all winter.

Driveway heating has come a long way. It’s no longer something seen in the affluent neighborhoods or touted by Tom and Katie as they yammer on about their ski chalet in Colorado. Heated driveways are now something your sister’s best friend just installed, your son’s basketball coach, your co-workers, next door neighbor or even your kid brother who you were sure was never going to own a home let alone increase its value with something as smart as a snow melting system. Get out of hot water with your boss. Pull out of your driveway on-time and relaxed as you calmly wave at your less fortunate neighbors sweating and shoveling out from last night’s doozie of a snow storm. Install a snow melting system right now and start enjoying the benefits of a stress-free heated driveway. 

The Environmental Benefits of a Heated Driveway

Now you can be gorgeously green, eco-conscious AND save your aching back this winter by installing an electric heated driveway. The green tidal wave is heading your way, down your street in fact, and who would have thought you could join by simply adding a snow melting system to your home? With sagging home prices staring us in the face, driveway heating is also a great way to increase the value of your home. There is much in our lives that is uncertain right now. What is certain is that winter will come, you can install a snow melting system, and you can help protect our environment by doing so.

An electric snow melting system has the brain-power to automatically detect moisture, so it only uses energy when needed. Utilizing this renewable energy to heat your driveway is a smart and eco-friendly choice. By electrically heating your driveway, you also eliminate the need for salt or harsh chemicals that harm the environment. What about the snow shoveling, the soggy gloves, the frozen eyelashes, and the cranky, aching back? The great news is that not only can you save Mother Earth by installing an electric heated driveway, but now you can save YOU too! I’m not sure I see a down-side to driveway heating yet. It’s a beautiful thing. Melt snow, save energy, and no more visits to the Chiropractor, all in one step. Simply look into an electric heated driveway and you are half-way there.