If you are like me, your affinity for shoveling snow is waning at a faster pace than your years. Face it, who likes to shovel snow? Less pleasant, is waiting for the boy down the street or the overworked fellow with the plow. Wouldn't it be nice to wake up one morning to a dry sidewalk and driveway while watching your neighbors struggle to get to work or even to the mailbox!?
If we consider for a moment the real cost of snow plowing in terms of equipment, fuel and manpower, it isn't hard to justify a capital investment that should outlast the life of your home while contributing to your personal comfort and safety.
Snow melting is a proven technology. In fact I recently replaced a system installed in 1977 that would still be operating but for the neglect of its second owner.
Most snow melting systems are hydronic (hot water) based. That is, plastic tubing is embedded in concrete or under asphalt and hot water (antifreeze) is pumped out into the slab melting the snow and evaporating the water until the surface is safe for foot or vehicle travel. Electric snowmelt is also available and preferred in some circumstances.
Class 1, 2 & 3 Snow melting systems
Each class of snowmelt system generally represents an increase in radiant output. The higher the class the faster the snow will be melted.
Class 1 is for residential sidewalks and driveways and requires the minimum amount of materials and heat source. This system will allow snow to accumulate during a storm but will melt the snow within a matter of hours after the event. These systems may have elaborate controls or simply be turned on and off with a light switch.
Class 2 is used for commercial surfaces such as drive up windows, gasoline pumps and public libraries. Snow may accumulate but will rapidly be melted depending on weather conditions. Slab, air and water temperatures are monitored automatically to assure performance and limit operational costs.
Class 3 is for commercial surfaces such as emergency equipment driveways, helipad etc. and require the greatest panel output with complete automation and standby idol capabilities that keep the surfaces at or near the freezing point until conditions call for active ice/snow melting. No snow accumulation is allowed for in a Class 3 snow melting system.
Installation Cost
Initial cost depends on the size and complexity of the job. Generally the more you spend on design and equipment the less the system will cost to operate. The cost of installation can run from $5 to $20.00/sq.ft.
Operating Cost
This is a function of the Class of system installed, the cost of fuel chosen and the weather. The cost of operation of a Class 1 system is typically .25/sq.ft. per year for a gas-fired system.
Maintenance
In Minnesota a snow melting system will only run a couple of hundred hours per year. By comparison a home heating system in Minnesota might run 2000 hours or more! So you can see that a typical snow melting system will not get a lot of run time unless of course it is a commercial Class 3 system.
http://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/snow_melting_systems/
Tubing and insulation secured before the cement pour.
.jpg)