Tag Archives: ClearZone snow melting system

HOTNEWS

ClearZone Snow Melting Systems

Snow melting systems may not be the first thing on your mind when the weather is beautiful and warm, but spring is a great time to install a snow melting system. There are a lot of options when it comes to snow melting systems, but Warmzone’s ClearZone Snow melting system is one of the best options available on the market today. When you work with Warmzone, choosing and installing an efficient and reliable snow melting system for your home or business is always easy and stress free.

The ClearZone snow melting system is a fully automated system that consists of three main components: the heating cable, an activation device (snow sensor), and a contactor panel. When the temperature hits the set point and precipitation is detected, the sensor signals the contactor panel, and power is sent to the embedded heat cable. These components work together to ensure each snow melting system operates only when needed, to quickly and efficiently melt snow and ice.

Heated pavers at outdoor mall.

The first component; heat cable, is possibly the most important. Warmzone’s ClearZone Snow Melting Cable is an industry leading cable that is trusted for residential and commercial radiant heat installations around the country. ClearZone cable is a high-quality single-point connection twin-conductor cable that is trusted by installers throughout the country. The twin conductor is housed in fluoropolymer insulation, a copper metal sheathing, and then a polyolefin outer casing, making it one of the most durable cables on the market. It can be used under almost any medium- from pavers to concrete, and even hot asphalt applications. The cable is rated at 120-600 volts, and has an output of 12 W per foot.  The cable is also CSA listed for the U.S. and Canada, and comes with a 10-year limited warranty.

ClearZone heating cable is also extremely versatile, available off spools, or pre-spaced in mats. ClearZone cable is the best choice for installations that need more installation flexibility, such as oddly shaped areas. It can be easily laid out in any custom shaped area. The cable is available in multiple lengths, and can be customized to meet the specifics of your project, making it easy to heat any area, no matter the shape or size.

ClearZone Radiant Snow melting mats come with heat cable pre-spaced for the demands of the application. These mats are rolled out for quick and easy installation. The mats are also rated at 120-600 V and feature an output of 37 W per foot squared and 50 W per square foot. These mats make installation for large snow melting applications quick and easy.

ClearZone heat cable is also extremely durable. Not only can it be put under pavers or concrete, but a specially designed version can withstand the high heat of a fresh asphalt pour. The external jacket is rated to withstand 460°F for up to 10 minutes. The asphalt is poured directly over the cable (or mats). Snow melting mats can be purchased in lengths of 11, 30, 51, 65, or 80 feet, making mats a great choice for almost any application. (Custom lengths can also be ordered.) ClearZone for asphalt is a good choice for new pours, but driveways or walkways can be retrofitted as well. Both ClearZone cable and mats provide a maintenance free, efficient, and safe way to keep walkways, driveways, parking areas, ramps, or loading docks safely free of snow and ice.

Deciding whether cable or mats are best for your project can be a difficult decision, but when you purchase top of the line products from Warmzone, you also receive industry leading customer service. At Warmzone, customer service begins with a professional designer to help you every step of the way: from picking out the appropriate products, to the layout of your system, to providing installation training and technical support as you begin your install. Warmzone has customer service professionals available to help you any time. These professionals can help you with all the services to help ensure a successful installation. Services include online instructional videos, free installation training, professional system design and personal installation support, Warmzone is with you every step of the way. Working with Warmzone means not only will you receive quality components, but also comprehensive high-quality customer service.

Radiant snow melting systems can also extend the life of your driveway. Because radiant heat not only keeps your driveway from sub-zero temperatures, it also dries the pavement after a storm, helping to greatly reduce the chance of spalling. Because concrete is porous, water from melted snow that refreezes can lead to spalling, and ultimately cracking of the concrete. Heated driveways dramatically reduce the chances of this scenario.

Concrete spalling
Spalling of a concrete driveway.

If you have questions about snow melting systems, call Warmzone today at 888-488-9276.

HOTNEWS

Snow and Ice Removal Made Easy

It’s that time of year to dig out the coats, snow boots and Halloween costumes again. But there is still time to decide how you want to spend your time this winter season. Are you going to be laboring with your snow shovel to keep your walks and driveways clear, or are you going to relax and let a heated driveway do all the work?

A driveway heating system may seem like a luxury you can’t afford, but Warmzone is making it easier than ever. Whether you want to heat an existing driveway or create a stylish new brick paver driveway, Warmzone offers the industry leading ClearZone snow melting cable to keep your driveway free of snow all winter long.

Radiant snow melting mats and cable

The ClearZone cables are ideal for melting snow in just about any outdoor area, including the growing trend for building outdoor living spaces for recreational and entertainment purposes. Past newsletters have highlighted outdoor living space projects, such as outdoor parlors, each of them using the ClearZone cables to ensure the ultimate in comfort, longevity and ease of use. An outdoor space is a great way to add value and comfort to your home, while still staying within your means.

ClearZone cables are made specifically to withstand the harshest construction applications and extreme weather conditions. Durable ClearZone snow melting cables can be embedded in concrete and asphalt, as well as under brick pavers.

Using concrete saw cutting technology, existing driveways, walkways, ramps and commercial areas can be easily retrofitted with a CZ snow melting system. Advancements in electric radiant snow melting systems have made these systems more energy efficient than ever (99 percent of power consumed goes to snow melting).

A ClearZone snow melting system is available in two different forms: cable on spools and pre-spaced in mats. The cable gives you added freedom when dealing with projects that involve odd shapes, or when installing a system into an existing concrete slab. The ClearZone snow melting mats are ideal for new projects because installation is quick and easy. Simply unroll the mat and continue standard install for concrete, asphalt and brick pavers.

Many snow melting systems on the market cannot withstand the harsh temperatures of new asphalt, and low-voltage systems do not pass the ASHRAE standard for snow melting systems. Warmzone offers the most comprehensive warranty on the market – 10 years and up to five times the cost of the original installation to repair any problems that may occur. Warmzone is a trusted manufacturer and provider of radiant heat solutions and has a worldwide reputation for making top quality radiant products.

Installing a snow melting system eliminates the need for harsh chemicals and snow removal devices, and will increase the life span of your driveway and the value of your home. Whether you’re looking to install a heated driveway or create a new, warm outdoor space, Warmzone can help you plan a system that keeps within your budget and provides a lifetime of benefits.

For more information about ClearZone heat cable and snow melting systems, visit www.warmzone.com, or call 888-488-9276 today.

Project Spotlight – Heated Driveway in Pennsylvania

is newsletter is all about getting ready for winter snow storms with outdoor snow melting systems, so it seems fitting for our Project Highlight to feature a residential heated driveway installed by one of our longtime customers and veteran contractor, Nathan Moyer, from Accent Radiant Heating. This heated driveway turned out so beautifully, we’ve even featured photos from the project on our website.

The Riley family home is located in Milford, Pennsylvania, in a rural neighborhood that receives icy precipitation all winter long. The 1300-square foot driveway required constant maintenance, which became a problem for the Riley’s, of whom suffer from back problems. The house sits on the top of a small hill, making their driveway incline at an approximate slope of 15 degrees. The incline and size of the driveway, combined with the physical challenges of shoveling the snow, made installation of a snowmelt system a necessity.

Snow melting heat cable laid out for asphalt heated driveway.

Prior to winter, the Riley’s gave Accent Radiant Heating a call to explore their options for snow removal systems. Because their existing driveway was built of asphalt, Nathan recommended laying the heating cables on top of the old asphalt. The ClearZone snow melting system was recommended because of its’ unique ability to withstand the high temperatures of the new asphalt.

Using the ClearZone mats snow melting system (with the cable rows pre-spaced and woven into a flexible mat), laying the cables for the driveway was simply a matter of unrolling and connecting four rows of CZ mats. Nathan installed the entire 1300 square feet of radiant cables in about three hours.

After the cables were installed, the new layer of asphalt was shoveled over the cables, using the standard steps for laying asphalt. The installation and wiring of the heating cables to the automatic sensor and control units took Nathan approximately five hours to complete.

Retrofitting asphalt driveway with radiant heat

The end result was a beautiful new asphalt driveway and automated snow melting system that added only one day of work to a standard asphalt driveway repave.

If you are in the Pennsylvania area and are looking for indoor and/or outdoor radiant heat systems, Accent Radiant Heating offers expertise and outstanding service. Contact Nathan Moyer at 267-312-5099 for more information.

If you are out of this area and are interested in learning more about a snowmelt system, contact a Warmzone representative today or call toll free at (888) 488-WARM (9276).

Our knowledgeable staff of radiant heat experts will help you with all your questions and put you in contact with a qualified installer in your area.

Articles

Project Spotlight – Runaway Truck Ramp in Connecticut

Two of the biggest reasons for installing a snowmelt system are safety and maintenance free snow removal. Safety was also the biggest concern for a dangerous stretch of road in Connecticut that has already claimed four lives. In an effort to prevent more accidents, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CDOT) set out to build a runaway truck ramp. CDOT chose Warmzone’s ClearZone snowmelt system to optimize the ramp’s safety.

Using saw-cut technology for installing radiant heat

The truck ramp is located in a mountainous metropolitan area of Connecticut, which created a unique problem. Because of limited space, the ramp could only be 480 feet long and required three metal nets to slow vehicle speed in the event of brake failure. The ramp walls are two feet thick and five feet high and reinforced from within with steel to stop a car from breaking through the ramp.

The nets coupled with the thick high walls made traditional methods of snow removal virtually impossible. There was no place to put plowed snow, and the metal safety nets had to be removed each time snow removal was required. The safety of the ramp was severely compromised when snow or ice gathered, making removal critical. A snow melting system was the best option to keep the ramp safe and functioning properly all year-round.

Grooves cut for heat cable  Retrofitting a runaway truck ramp with radiant heat

    Views of grooves cut for radiant heat cable to be installed.

Projects of this scale usually require more installation expertise than that of a small snowmelt system, which is why Warmzone’s technical specialist, Dan Mignogna, traveled to Connecticut to assist with the installation. With over 32 years of experience as an electrician and an expert in radiant heating, Mignogna worked closely with the CDOT team to determine the proper system installation and wiring of the automatic snow sensors.

The easiest method for installing a snowmelt system is beneath new asphalt, pavers or concrete. For this project, the ClearZone cables needed to be installed into existing asphalt using concrete saw-cutting technology. The cables were embedded 3 inches into the asphalt and covered using sealant. Each row of CZ cable was spaced 6 inches apart. The entire project required 12,960 feet of ClearZone snow melting cable.

The CDOT runaway truck ramp is scheduled for completion in early September of 2008. Click on the link for more information about ClearZone snowmelt systems.