Heated driveway ?

Irish mist · 02-01-2008, 10:33 PM

Who has a heated driveway ? Do they really work well......or it it something of a myth ? I'm sure they don't melt a foot of snow, but are they worth while ? I'm thinking of putting one in, but not sure if it's worth the money.

Bear Islander · 02-02-2008, 12:11 AM

I installed 40 feet of electrically heated driveway. It's not the entire driveway, just two strips on a steep hill. Each strip about two feet wide. The strips are always clear of snow even in the worst storms. A moisture and temperature sensor turns it on when conditions are right.

It's not cheap to install and uses a lot of electricity, but it has been doing the job for more than ten years.

It could melt any thickness of snow, but the way it works is to melt it as it hits.

Irish mist · 02-02-2008, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bear Islander

I installed 40 feet of electrically heated driveway. It's not the entire driveway, just two strips on a steep hill. Each strip about two feet wide. The strips are always clear of snow even in the worst storms. A moisture and temperature sensor turns it on when conditions are right.

It's not cheap to install and uses a lot of electricity, but it has been doing the job for more than ten years.

Thanks for that info

I'm going to have a very small driveway, so this is good news. Lol, my wife is worried that it will melt the car tires, but I told her that she need not worry about that.

Bear Islander · 02-02-2008, 08:44 AM

The driveway doesn't get hot, it does get warm enough to melt snow. One drawback is the melted snow runs down hill and forms a small patch of ice when it hits an area of cold driveway. After several storms you get a small speed bump of ice at that area.

This'nThat · 02-02-2008, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bear Islander

I installed 40 feet of electrically heated driveway.

Who did your installation?

Bear Islander · 02-02-2008, 06:54 PM

I did it myself, I'm an electrician. I did it when we were repaving using fiberglass mats between asphalt layers. Now I understand they have other options.

Weirs guy · 02-04-2008, 12:16 PM

Theres also hot water based driveway snow melting systems, however they can be very expensive to run (read several hundreds of dollars a year in fuel) that do the same thing as the electric systems. They require piping be run under the asphalt.

If you'd like more info PM me.

SIKSUKR · 02-04-2008, 02:22 PM

I have seen the same situation that BI is refering to with water refreezing.Water bars or slight grade changes angled towards the side of the driveway solved that problem.The heated area must extend into the water bar.They sort of work like water bars on ski trails if you know what those are.

Knomad · 02-05-2008, 02:58 PM

I understand that FW Webb in Conway has the hot water system installed at their business and also sells the product.

xltRod · 02-05-2008, 05:27 PM

I would think that anyone who has radiant heat supplys would have what you need.

Weirs guy · 02-06-2008, 12:09 PM

Check out http://www.wattsradiant.com/pdf/broc...g-Brochure.pdf

idigtractors · 02-06-2008, 06:24 PM

When I was a teenager I worked for a plumbing supply house that heated there drive which was on a hill and 3 large trucks wide. it was about 150' (approx). The owner used 3 separate oil fired boilers (steam) heating the drive in 3 zones. This system worked fantastic with a light snow fall and medium icing conditions. When it snowed hard it just could not keep up with it and the stuff that had melted would turn to ice due to the amount of snow coming down on it. He used it for about five years and the piping started to spring leaks (Didn't have plastic or the new fancy stuff back in the 50's). Well anyway up it came and never went back again at least in all the years that I worked for them.

Weirs guy · 02-07-2008, 12:49 PM

The city of Concord was one of the first municipalities in the country to use steam heat to melt snow off of a hill on, I believe, Centre St. in the 1890's! Imagine what that heating bill was like.

SIKSUKR · 02-07-2008, 01:00 PM

Actually it was probably pretty cheap.Energy costs back then were not much of an issue.However,I believe Concord still has sidewalks that have steam heated melting capabilities.

ACutAbove · 02-07-2008, 11:06 PM

Try seely plumbing in Meredith. He put one in a paver driveway at one of my customers a few yrs back and it works good from what I have seen. He still services to this day. Although it hasent been turned on for 2 yrs till the other day and it worked just fine.

Little Bear · 02-08-2008, 08:41 AM

http://www.warmzone.com/SnowMelting/blueheat.asp

Here's one company we've been looking at.

RumGuy · 02-11-2008, 07:10 AM

Snow melt for a driveway is essentially the same as radiant heat in a home floor,and is something that technology has greatly benefitted over the past 10 years. Plastic tubing buried beneath the asphalt, advanced insulation techniques, and condensing boiler technology make a snow melt system actually advantageous. You can make a system simple, such as throwing a switch when you want to melt, or complex, with moisture and temperature sensors running the whole show. Either way, it beats shovelling!

Excalibur · 02-12-2008, 12:31 PM

I know I am off topic, but I have a deck that hangs out further then my roof line. So needless to say the snow falls off the roof onto the deck and then the water drips on it creating a ice chunk of snow.
Does anyone have a recommendation on how to keep it clear, since it is just a weekend place I have a hard time getting all the ice packed snow off the deck. I looked at the roof cables but they should be installed on shingles.

Rattlesnake Guy · 02-13-2008, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excalibur

I know I am off topic, but I have a deck that hangs out further then my roof line. So needless to say the snow falls off the roof onto the deck and then the water drips on it creating a ice chunk of snow.
Does anyone have a recommendation on how to keep it clear, since it is just a weekend place I have a hard time getting all the ice packed snow off the deck. I looked at the roof cables but they should be installed on shingles.

Check out my 2nd, 3rd and 4th post in this link. Worked great this winter. (No ice or splash)
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ead.php?t=5205
It won't keep all the snow off but it will let the water pass through.

02-01-2008, 10:33 PM	#1
Irish mist Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 682 Thanks: 123 Thanked 85 Times in 49 Posts	Heated driveway ? Who has a heated driveway ? Do they really work well......or it it something of a myth ? I'm sure they don't melt a foot of snow, but are they worth while ? I'm thinking of putting one in, but not sure if it's worth the money. Last edited by Irish mist; 02-27-2011 at 10:11 PM.

02-04-2008, 12:16 PM	#7
Weirs guy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Weirs Beach, NH Posts: 1,067 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Theres also hot water based driveway snow melting systems, however they can be very expensive to run (read several hundreds of dollars a year in fuel) that do the same thing as the electric systems. They require piping be run under the asphalt. If you'd like more info PM me. __________________ Is it bikeweek yet? Now?

02-04-2008, 02:22 PM	#8
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	I have seen the same situation that BI is refering to with water refreezing.Water bars or slight grade changes angled towards the side of the driveway solved that problem.The heated area must extend into the water bar.They sort of work like water bars on ski trails if you know what those are. __________________ SIKSUKR

02-05-2008, 05:27 PM	#10
xltRod Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Windham NH Posts: 19 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I would think that anyone who has radiant heat supplys would have what you need. __________________ It is far easyer to beg forgiveness, than ask permission.

02-06-2008, 12:09 PM	#11
Weirs guy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Weirs Beach, NH Posts: 1,067 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Check out http://www.wattsradiant.com/pdf/broc...g-Brochure.pdf __________________ Is it bikeweek yet? Now?

02-02-2008, 12:11 AM	#2
Bear Islander Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bear Island Posts: 1,757 Thanks: 31 Thanked 429 Times in 203 Posts	I installed 40 feet of electrically heated driveway. It's not the entire driveway, just two strips on a steep hill. Each strip about two feet wide. The strips are always clear of snow even in the worst storms. A moisture and temperature sensor turns it on when conditions are right. It's not cheap to install and uses a lot of electricity, but it has been doing the job for more than ten years. It could melt any thickness of snow, but the way it works is to melt it as it hits.

02-02-2008, 08:44 AM	#4
Bear Islander Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bear Island Posts: 1,757 Thanks: 31 Thanked 429 Times in 203 Posts	The driveway doesn't get hot, it does get warm enough to melt snow. One drawback is the melted snow runs down hill and forms a small patch of ice when it hits an area of cold driveway. After several storms you get a small speed bump of ice at that area.

02-02-2008, 06:54 PM	#6
Bear Islander Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bear Island Posts: 1,757 Thanks: 31 Thanked 429 Times in 203 Posts	I did it myself, I'm an electrician. I did it when we were repaving using fiberglass mats between asphalt layers. Now I understand they have other options.

02-05-2008, 02:58 PM	#9
Knomad Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Center Tuftonboro Posts: 173 Thanks: 0 Thanked 33 Times in 19 Posts	I understand that FW Webb in Conway has the hot water system installed at their business and also sells the product.

02-06-2008, 06:24 PM	#12
idigtractors Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 248 Thanks: 6 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	When I was a teenager I worked for a plumbing supply house that heated there drive which was on a hill and 3 large trucks wide. it was about 150' (approx). The owner used 3 separate oil fired boilers (steam) heating the drive in 3 zones. This system worked fantastic with a light snow fall and medium icing conditions. When it snowed hard it just could not keep up with it and the stuff that had melted would turn to ice due to the amount of snow coming down on it. He used it for about five years and the piping started to spring leaks (Didn't have plastic or the new fancy stuff back in the 50's). Well anyway up it came and never went back again at least in all the years that I worked for them. Last edited by idigtractors; 02-12-2008 at 07:52 AM.

02-07-2008, 12:49 PM	#13
Weirs guy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Weirs Beach, NH Posts: 1,067 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Way way off topic The city of Concord was one of the first municipalities in the country to use steam heat to melt snow off of a hill on, I believe, Centre St. in the 1890's! Imagine what that heating bill was like. __________________ Is it bikeweek yet? Now?

02-07-2008, 01:00 PM	#14
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	Actually it was probably pretty cheap.Energy costs back then were not much of an issue.However,I believe Concord still has sidewalks that have steam heated melting capabilities. __________________ SIKSUKR

02-07-2008, 11:06 PM	#15
ACutAbove Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Holderness Posts: 219 Thanks: 7 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	Try seely plumbing in Meredith. He put one in a paver driveway at one of my customers a few yrs back and it works good from what I have seen. He still services to this day. Although it hasent been turned on for 2 yrs till the other day and it worked just fine.

02-08-2008, 08:41 AM	#16
Little Bear Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 563 Thanks: 109 Thanked 239 Times in 128 Posts	http://www.warmzone.com/SnowMelting/blueheat.asp Here's one company we've been looking at.

02-11-2008, 07:10 AM	#17
RumGuy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Cape Cod / W.Alton Posts: 76 Thanks: 4 Thanked 9 Times in 5 Posts	SnowMelt Snow melt for a driveway is essentially the same as radiant heat in a home floor,and is something that technology has greatly benefitted over the past 10 years. Plastic tubing buried beneath the asphalt, advanced insulation techniques, and condensing boiler technology make a snow melt system actually advantageous. You can make a system simple, such as throwing a switch when you want to melt, or complex, with moisture and temperature sensors running the whole show. Either way, it beats shovelling!

02-12-2008, 12:31 PM	#18
Excalibur Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Gilford,NH is where I would like to be and Southborough, MA is where I have to be Posts: 85 Thanks: 14 Thanked 10 Times in 3 Posts	What about a deck? I know I am off topic, but I have a deck that hangs out further then my roof line. So needless to say the snow falls off the roof onto the deck and then the water drips on it creating a ice chunk of snow. Does anyone have a recommendation on how to keep it clear, since it is just a weekend place I have a hard time getting all the ice packed snow off the deck. I looked at the roof cables but they should be installed on shingles.