Heated Driveway News

Snow Removal - the Easy Way

Have you driven down the street after or during a snow storm and noticed that the snow doesn’t stick on a few driveways? Others are covered in snow and some are getting impassable. There is a very good reason for this. Those in the know have installed a radiant heat snow removal system. Also known as a driveway snow melting system or heated driveway system, these are forms of electric radiant heat. When a driveway goes in, just before the concrete or asphalt is applied a grid of heat cable is installed and the finish surface is applied over that. A sensor switches on when conditions are favorable for snow, activating the system. There you have it – one of them fancy driveways that seemingly “repels” snow! (Well, actually, it melts the snow, but you get my drift; no pun intended.)

If you live in an area where you get lots of that white stuff, a heated driveway makes all the sense in the world. Don’t worry if you already have your driveway in and don’t have this system. It isn’t that difficult to install over an existing driveway. The wire grid is laid over the existing driveway and a layer of asphalt or even concrete is applied over that, no major demo is even required. I think it’s quite a bit easier than moving to Florida or Southern California. No packing required.

A radiant snowmelt system may not be the first thing you think of when looking for conveniences to have on a new home but it wouldn’t take too many failed attempts at driveway traversal for that to change. The look on your face as you get out of a car on a perfectly clear driveway when your neighbors are snowed out (or in) would just about make it worth it right there. Consider this as your next remodel.

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.

Clearing Your Driveway in Your Sleep

Remember when you used to have to get a shovel and go outside and shovel snow and ice? Remember when you used to have to run taxi service for your neighbor when he was stuck in the driveway? Why not say “goodbye” to those days and start enjoying the benefits of an automated driveway snow melting system?

Electric heated driveways have been around for a while now. What you may not have known is how easy they are to install and maintain. These snow melting systems are about as convenient as one could ever hope. A snow sensor monitors weather conditions and activates the system only when needed. How much easier could it be to watch the snow instantly melt as hits lands on the driveway? (Was it Sylvester the cat who used to say “simultaneously even?” I’m getting fuzzy on my cartoon characters nowadays. Saturdays just haven’t been the same for many years now. I digress.)

Heated driveway systems consist of heat cable installed underneath the finish surface. The automated sensor signals the snowmelt system's control unit, which then activates the system. The heat cable generates heat that radiates throughout the driveway surface (concrete, asphalt, tile or brick pavers, etc.), so the driveway is warm when the first snowflake hits; thus, melting the snow even while you sleep. It doesn't get much better than this! I like the idea of my driveway being cleared while I sleep – or perhaps I just like the idea of me being asleep. Regardless, driveway snow melting systems is an idea whose time has definitely come.

Electric snowmelt and hydronic snow melting systems both keep your driveway free of snow and ice, but which one is better? The debate over hydronic versus electric systems is ongoing and may not reveal immediate and apparent differences right away – so here is a breakdown of each type of system, to help you make a well informed purchase.

Hydronic heat is the oldest radiant heating technology, and has proven the test of time. While both electric and hydronic heat systems offer great advantages, the ease of use and flexibility of electric radiant heat makes it suitable for a larger number of applications. Ultimately, the system you choose will be based on your project parameters, size, budget, and location.

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.