Snow melting equipment

[circlew]

Does anyone here have a snow melting system in their driveway or sidewalk? I'm going to have a driveway slab poured in the near future, and I'm thinking about including this.

They come in both hydronic (requiring boiler or geothermal equipment) or electric cables or mats. Don't know the differences in cost of installation or operation, or which would have the longest lifespan.

 

[jeffg]

Here's a site with overall info on snow melting systems, including cost of operation info. Sounds like the answer to which is least/most expensive depends on how much snow you usually get:

Heated Driveways - Snow Melt Systems for Concrete - Concrete Network

A heated driveway equiped with a snow melt system can eleimante the need for shoveling, plowing or deicing. A heating element beneath the concrete helps keep your driveway safe by melting snow and ice.

www.concretenetwork.com

 

[maytagbear]

This may seem extravagant, but it is not.

Better electricity or steam/hot water than lots of potentially damaging salt!

--at the library for a few more minutes--

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[retro-man]

I looked into these types of systems a few years ago when we built new, but this was for a parking lot and walkways. It would need its own separate boiler and a closed loop system with antifreeze mixed with the water so as not to freeze when the ground froze and no snow. If you were having cold weather prior to snow you had to turn the system on well in advance to have the pavement warm prior to it snowing or you will never catch up. How many times I have awoken to 6 inches of snow and no one said it was coming. I guess we get too much snow where we are so it was not feasible. Plus if you develop a leak you have to remove the pavement and dig down to repair the pipe or connection. Well that was not going to happen, and the additional $ for the gas bill. Decided to go with a John Deere 1023 tractor with snow blower and plow blade along with a cab and heater. Its sort of fun to blow snow when your warn dry and comfy.
Jon

 

[combo52]

Heated Outdoor Drive Ways and Sidewalks

As you can see in the link above it can be very expensive to run these systems, and the example of the electrically heated driveway in the above link uses a ridicules electricity rate of less that 7 cents per KW of power so at today's rates you better count on at least an extra $1000 or more on your Ohio electric bill.

Here in the Washington DC area I have come across several homes over he years that had one of these systems either because they had a very steep driveway or were just over the top homes. Everyone that had ever used it said it made there power look like the National Dept, LOL., they also mentioned the problems that Jon listed about trying to time when to run it and hoping it will actually melt the snow fast enough to do the job.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

A manager I used to work for at one job I had, whom working past his retirement back in the 1990's was talking about getting such a device for his driveway--and which this must have been in its development/'Back to the Drawing Board Stage'...

I'll stick with my snowblower (when I can even get it out of the shed) as I actually enjoy getting rid of snow than I do mowing my lawn--though I really dislike winter, especially the driving, and really hate the freezing cold!

-- Dave

 

[combo52]

Heated Outdoor Drive Ways and Sidewalks

Have been around since before WW2 and electric ones since the 1950s.

 

[davey7]

One of the UIC School of Public Health buildings had a heated ramp (like 50 feet wide) and it had to be torn up because it was 1/2" too steep for ADA! Didn't that ghost mining town in Alaska have heated sidewalks - can't remember the name.

But as we all know, hair dryers with extension cords will melt the arctic ice and make Detroit waterfront property..

 

[tolivac]

Snow melters!!!WASTE OF POWER-would take LESS energy to plow the snow--by hand,truck plow or backhoe,or a plow mounted on a lawn tractor.And bet the snowblower would use less fuel or energy,too.Chemical melters cause pollution,corrode concrete,and kill or damage grass and plants.Mechanical removal is the most efficient.

 

[retropia]

I think the concept of a heated driveway is absolutely DREAMY and would love to have one. Push a button and make it all melt away. Alas, they don't seem to be very practical.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

What my manager envisioned having was a natural gas-fired furnace of some sort in his garage, piping the heat under the driveway...

Again, I never knew this concept actually existed, but I figured this guy now in his 90's probably for all I know lives back down south...

-- Dave

 

[davey7]

Another system I've come across...

I came across a high-rise building on the South Side of Chicago which had a hollow room under their garage ramp (garage is below grade) where a forced air furnace was located which heated the room to, in theory, keep the ramp surface above freezing to prevent icing and keep snow melted... The concrete surface is in poor condition, so not sure it really worked so well...

 

[davey7]

PS

Jump over to heatinghelp and read about the people with radiant and hydronic heating systems connect to driveway loops. Quite common. Was also big in the 50's for heating outdoor patio's in milder climates such as AZ and CA.

 

[circlew]

Thanks for all the responses, everyone!

This was something I never thought about until I became unable to shovel snow, due to health problems. The past 5 winters my neighbor kid ususlly came and cleared the pavement off. Now he has graduated from HS, and will probably be away working when it needs done.

Sounds like this is something for those who never have to worry about the cost of anything, and that doesn't include me. Sounds expensive to install and operate. Guess I'd only do it if I had a geothermal HVAC system installed. That was considered, but price was very high.

Maybe I'll be lucky and some other kids will come around wanting to make some money.

 

[tolivac]

Snow removal in snow areas-contact the groundskeeping and mowing companies--often they do snow plowing in the winter.They do the snow removal during the winter to keep their business.If neighborhood boys aren't available to do it-maybe the groundskeeping companies can-but they would be more expensive.