The Costs of Not Having a Radiant Heated Driveway

Protect Yourself From the Snowy Dangers of Winter

As radiant heated driveways increase in popularity you may have wondered what it is that makes them so great. Sure they eliminate the need to shovel or plow, but are they really that great? And are you missing out by not installing one?

Besides being affordably luxurious, heated driveway systems are a lot more than just a quick and easy way to melt snow. They are your surefire way to keep you, your family, or your customers safe from slip-and-fall accidents this winter. The systems operate cleanly on renewable energy, are maintenance free, and fully automated.

The benefits of radiant snow melting systems are dramatic. While installing a heated driveway system requires an initial investment, the costs of not installing one are proof that your investment is well worth it.

Physical Injuries

Every winter, thousands of Americans are injured from snow-related injuries. Slipping and falling on an icy driveway is a one-way ticket to misery and pricey hospital bills—the last thing you need in the already blustery winter season. Additionally, shoveling takes its toll on everybody, no matter how spry you may think you are. Blisters, sore backs, and, in some drastic cases, heart attacks are all maladies that could be avoided by installing a radiant heated driveway.

Personal Injury Lawsuits

Personal injury lawsuits are nasty events that home and business owners try to avoid at all costs. Unfortunately, snow and ice buildup is an easy way to land yourself in the middle of a sticky personal injury lawsuit. Every year, business owners are sued for not providing a safe entrance to and from their store. Additionally, homeowners are sued for negligence after neighbors and visitors slip and fall on icy driveways. Radiant heated driveways protect you against ugly lawsuits by keeping you one step ahead of the storm and keeping your driveway clean and clear at all times.

Environmental Impacts

Perhaps the most popular method of choice for keeping driveways safe is rock salt, but what you may not know is that salt could be doing more harm than good. Snow melting salt contains ingredients that are detrimental to the environment. As the salt dissolves, it drains into your yard’s surrounding landscape, sucking the life out of plants and grass. Additionally, salt can be harmful to your pets should they step on or swallow it.

Wasted Time and Frustration

The most relatable cost of not having a radiant heated driveway is the wasted time and frustration that comes from endlessly shoveling and salting all winter long. No matter how hard you try, it seems like the blizzard always wins. Heated driveways, however, are fully automated and turn on when conditions warrant, meaning you can stay inside and let your heated driveway system keep your home or business safe and snow free with absolutely no effort on your part.

Once you weigh the costs of not having a radiant heated driveway, it’s easy to see that the benefits of radiant heat can be worth the initial investment of getting a heated driveway installed. Don’t let yourself pay the price this winter. Install a radiant heated driveway and keep yourself, your loved ones, and your business customers' safe this winter.

The Operational Cost of a Heated Driveway

So what does it cost to own and operate a driveway heating system? Using a simple formula, operating costs can be estimated with relative accuracy.

General Guidelines to Determine a Heated Driveway's Operating Cost
1.	Determine the total square footage of the area that will be heated. (The average American home has an 800-square foot driveway.)
2.	Multiply the square footage by the heat required (37 watts per square foot for residential). This will give you a total for the watts per square footage required.
3.	Divide this number by 1,000 to convert to kilowatts.
4.	Look up the kilowatts-per-hour rate from the local power utility company.
5.	Multiply the total watts-per-square footage by the watts-per-hour. This gives you the cost-per-hour of usage for the snow melting system.
6.	EXAMPLE (for an 800-square foot driveway): 800 (sq.ft.) x 37 (watts) = 29,600 (total watts). 29,600 divided by 1,000 = 29.6 kw per hour (This is what the power company will charge you per one hour of operation.) The national average utility rate is 12 cents, therefore: 29.6 x .12 = $3.55. The cost of operation would be $3.55 per hour. NOTE: Heating cables and mats are rated in total watts. If the snowmelt system is intended for a commercial application, then you would multiply the total square footage by 50 watts to get a total wattage required.

For more information about snow melting, floor heating, or roof de-icing systems, call 888.488.9276.

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