Tag Archives: Heated driveways

Radiant Heat News

Just Say NO to Snow with Radiant Heated Driveways

Heated Driveways Will Make You Say YES to Snow

Radiant heated driveways are an aching back’s dream come true and allow you to just say “no” to snow. Face it, each and every time a new snow storm hits you utter words that you wouldn’t say in front of your religious leaders. Each flake that lands on an unheated driveway is another thorn in your side, another creak in your back and a kink in your neck.

Heated driveway

Homeowners watch in dismay as the skies open up and dump white harmless looking bits of snow crystals on their sidewalks and driveways. Shovels and snow blowers are taxed and so are backs, necks, and arms. Many people just want a way to say “no thanks” to snowy days and back-breaking efforts to clear their property.

Heated driveways are the latest rage now and with great reason. Installing a radiant heated driveway saves time and money for every homeowner smart enough to add it to their property.  Home values raise, winter blues decrease, and screaming body parts silence in homes that offer the perk of a radiant snow melting system. Check out the many affordable snow melting options from Warmzone. You might be surprised to discover that a heated driveway system is a realistic possibility for you.

So, if you are ready to stop cursing Mother Nature, then perhaps a radiant snow melting system is for you. Winter doesn’t have to be the enemy, you could be saying YES, YES, YES to snow once you don’t have to clear it from your driveway.

Radiant Heat News

Radiant Heat – Get it, Got it, Good

Get in on Heated Driveways While the Getting is Good

Sure, you don’t want to be a sheep and just follow the crowd, twisting with the fads and turning tides of consumer whims…but some fads turn into life-long investments that can benefit you and your home value. If you ask me (and I know I’m being presumptuous to think you would since we’ve probably never met, but just hear me out) some home improvement investments can actually increase your property value. Want an example of getting while the getting is good? Take the idea of a heated driveway for starters.

Heated driveway in concrete

Think of luxurious winter months spent inside sipping a warm drink or playing games with your kids while your poor neighbors fire up the snow blowers or crank out the shovels. These neighbors clearly didn’t get a radiant snow melting system while the getting was good. Believe it or not spring and summer are the best months to say to yourself “heated driveway…get it, got it, good.” You’ll save money and you’ll be ready super early for the next onslaught of snow, which we hope is many moons away. Still, it helps to think about a ClearZone heated driveway now when the off season has the best deals to offer. Think of it like standing in the holiday isles after the holiday. Plenty of deals to be had, plenty of ways to say get it, got it, good. Do the same for a heated driveway and you’ll be glad you got while the getting was good.

Radiant Heat News

How Much Wood Could a Woodchuck Chuck in a Pile of Snow?

Could the Woodchuck Chuck More Snow than ClearZone Heat Cable?

Sure, it will probably never happen, but it is kind of fun to think about. Picture a beefed-up, squirrely little woodchuck taking on a snow storm versus the melting power of ClearZone heat cables. His furry little arms would be fast and furious tiny windmills as they scooped at the endless mounds of snow surrounding him. All the while the ClearZone heat cable would use the smart principles of radiant heat to work far less with far better snow melting results. The poor little woodchuck would perspire, breathe heavy, and wear out faster than a hippo running a marathon. Yet the ClearZone heat cable would sit calmly beneath the surface working silently to melt the snow above.

Maybe this scenario is proof that winter has been too long for me and my mind has started to wander to far off places because of the snow blindness and cabin fever. However, crazy or not, the idea of anything or anyone or any animal (poor little woodchuck) beating out the power of an automatic snow melting system when it comes to snow removal is frivolous. The snow melting systems that utilize ClearZone heat cables allow you, the user (or the woodchuck if he gets a good job to pay for it) to enjoy winter without the hassle of constant snow removal. It would give you and that wood chucking varmint a much needed rest.

HOTNEWS

Back on Track with a Heated Driveway

Heated Driveway System in Illinois Paves the Way to Big Savings for one Warmzone Customer

When a Warmzone customer in rural Illinois found he did not have the resources to heat his entire driveway as originally planned, Sales Manager, Bryan Morris, offered a reasonable alternative. “Tire tracks were a great option in this scenario,” he explained, “because you can still get a heated portion that allows you to drive in and out, without breaking the bank. After consulting with the customer and our design team, we laid out the options (verbally and with drawings) before deciding on a more cost-effective, two-track heated driveway solution. Ultimately, heating two tire tracks (500 sq.ft.), as opposed to heating the entire 1,250 sq.ft. driveway, resulted in a $3,900 cost savings.”

Retrofitting asphalt driveway with heated tire tracks-1      Retrofitting asphalt driveway with heated tire tracks-2

Another consideration was the lack of available power. “To heat an entire driveway would have required a large number of amps from the home’s electrical power panel,” Morris stated. “Most homes only have a 200 amp panel, yet it takes approximately 180 breaker amps per 1,000 square feet to heat an entire driveway.”

The two-track radiant heated driveway system required installation of four Warmzone ClearZone snow melting mats, a 200-amp Warmzone electrical timer panel, an aerial mounted moisture/temperature snow sensor, a remote manual control unit and an NEC marker plate. Tire tracks were easily installed by rolling out the mats like sleeping bags. A protective asphalt layer was then raked over the tire track mats (photo 2) before the final surface coat was applied. “We use an asphalt machine that straddles the heating element to prevent damaging the heat cable,” offered Morris.

Asphalt driveway being retrofitted with heated tire tracks - 3      Heated asphalt driveway retrofitted with heated tire tracks.

The great news is that you don’t have to pour a new driveway to benefit from a heated driveway. Warmzone can customize your system to fit your needs and budget. “On this project,” said Morris, “the customer was paving the whole driveway anyway. Some customers pick other install methods, such as saw cutting, to achieve their goals.”

Saw cutting is cutting grooves or paths and inserting the heat cable in areas where heat is desired. With certain driveway heating systems, it is also possible to pave over the mats and create the appearance of a seamless transaction. “You can cut out the area you want to heat and then pave only that area,” Morris added. ClearZone is used under cement, asphalt and pavers on a regular basis.

Flexible options make heated driveway solutions a very popular equity booster for homeowners, and are becoming a popular home improvement option. “On average,” Morris stated, “the overall materials (cable, electrical and auto sensors) cost $6.00 per sq.ft. for 1,000 sq. ft., and the operating cost per 5-hour storm is $18.00, or $3-4 per hour depending on the state the heated driveway system is installed in and the power company’s cost per kilowatt hour.”

While the initial cost of installing a radiant heated driveway system may seem a bit daunting, the benefits of driveway heating are well worth the initial investment, the most obvious being convenience. Heated driveways don’t require shoveling, harmful salt and chemical applications or expensive snow removal services. Instead, driveway heating systems provide a safe, thorough snow removal solution with curb appeal, solving snow  removal challenges posed by problematic driveways, steps, and other heavy traffic areas.

Heated driveway systems are fully automated, so they will automatically turn on or off when needed. “If it snows at 3 a.m.,” Morris smiled, “our customer will wake up to a clear driveway. He now has a reliable, efficient snow removal solution.”

Project Spotlight – Colorado Homeowners Install Solar Powered Radiant Floor Heating System

When two Colorado homeowners decided to build a new home from the ground up, they had two main objectives in mind. They wanted a home just for them and they wanted to be as eco-friendly as possible. One of the components they chose in their new construction was to install radiant floor heating through the 1600 square feet downstairs and 900 square feet upstairs.

After doing some research and finding Warmzone online they were pleased with the many options available for various applications and the customer support offered during the entire process.

These Rocky Mountain homeowners had several great reasons for wanting to go the radiant heat route. A major consideration was allergies and how forced air systems exacerbate this condition. Cost was another concern, as was the noise of a running furnace and the desire for a comfortable, even-air temperature throughout the home. Many customers are finding their way to radiant floor heating for some of the same well thought-out reasons.

Installing radiant floor heating cable

In order to accommodate the necessary electricity needs for a radiant floor, they installed 28 solar panels to meet the demand of the electric heat. This means they are using electricity solely produced by them, helping to keep costs down and mother earth smiling.

This project called for ComfortTile heat cables and a low-voltage floor heating system laid under a variety of flooring throughout the home. The Colorado couple chose tile, wood laminate, and carpet in various parts of the home. The radiant flooring systems were chosen because of their particular capabilities and installed throughout different zones. Warmzone provided the design layouts and helped walk them through the entire process.

When asked about the benefits of using radiant floor heating, the homeowner produced a long list, including evenly spread heat through the whole house, toasty floors, noiseless heating system with easy-to-program thermostats, lack of dust, and no need to wear shoes indoors anymore.

Solar panels installed to power radiant floor heating system

Asked if they would recommend radiant floor heating to others Jane responded, “Definitely! Check out the different flooring options and applications and determine where you want the zoned heating.” Warmzone provides customers with a variety of options and helps you select the best solution for your home and budget.  Warmzone prices, product offerings and professional design services are among the best in the industry.

Articles

Outdoor Radiant Heating Systems

Following the trends of the indoor heating market, where radiant heating systems have been used for decades, the great outdoors is warming up, too. Radiant heat warms the floor and any object in contact with the floor to distribute an even, no-draft heat. Outdoor settings like patios or pathways leading to a hot tub can now benefit from using a traditional hydronic radiant heating system or even more intriguing is the emerging trend of embedding electric heating cables to provide that desired surface temperature. Raising the surface above 38 degrees will conveniently remove any snow or ice and allow you to use your outdoor living areas more often.

Outdoor heating systems (snow melting systems) are more suited towards new construction since these electric heating cables are actually embedded in the concrete or placed in a sand bed directly under brick pavers. Ambitious do-it-yourselfers will have no problem laying out the cable and preparing them for a certified electrician to do the final hook-up. Outdoor heating systems have always been efficient in delivering heat; the problem has been shutting them off when the job of removing snow from a driveway or outdoor patio is complete.

Recent designs in aerial sensors and surface mounted sensors make these outdoor heating systems cost effective to operate. Automated sensors detect the combination of precipitation and cold temperatures and activate the outdoor heating systems during inclement weather conditions and then automatically turn off a few hours after the storm. Manual operation of these outdoor heating systems can also be used to spot heat your driveway or patio if additional heat is required.

Obviously, an outdoor heating system is not for everyone. Those who live in warm climates year round will not be well served. However, think of those residents in New York, Illinois and even Colorado and Utah with long steep driveways or exposed sidewalks. Even businesses are adopting outdoor heating systems to curb their liability to slips and falls. Sidewalks, entryways and even loading docks are benefiting from embedded heating systems as an effective way to remove pesky ice and snow hazards.

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.

Press Releases

Wisconsin Says Goodbye to Outdated Snow Melting Law

Salt Lake City, UT (PRWEB) May 27, 2008 – Wisconsin governor, Jim Doyle, recently passed a law abolishing the 1980’s law banning heated sidewalks, stairs, entrances and pedestrian walkways in Wisconsin. Wisconsin was the only state to ban heated sidewalks in response to the 1970’s energy crisis.

In a state that received 100 plus inches of snow during the 2007-2008 winter, it is a wonder that the law was not repealed sooner. Many Wisconsin businesses and service providers, such as the Marathon County Public Library, waited for the law to abolish before beginning walkway and stairway construction projects. Safety was the biggest concern and reason behind installing a radiant heat snow melting system.

Current snow melting systems are more environmentally friendly than the use of salt and chemicals to melt the snow, which causes calcium chloride to run into rivers and water supplies. Radiant heat systems are more cost effective in the long run than continual salt dumping and removal, and also extend the life of the cement.

Snow melting systems carried at Warmzone use a sophisticated activation device that only turns the system on when it senses precipitation and temperatures are below 39 degrees Fahrenheit. Additional features include an adjustable temperature trigger point and an adjustable delay off cycle, which eliminates unnecessary energy usage. The ClearZone heated driveway cable consumes only 30-50 watts per square foot and its response time is the quickest snow melting system on the market (requires 30% less operation than other systems).

Best of all, the snow melt system runs on electricity, not fossil fuels. To make your snowmelt system the ultimate “environmentally friendly” radiant heating system, look into the possibilities of solar, wind, and hydro renewable energy sources.

It is recommended to install a snow melting and heated driveway system into new concrete, but radiant heat systems can also be installed in existing walkways, sidewalks and driveways. Concrete saw-cut technology and epoxy is typically used for retrofitting existing cement structures with radiant heat. For more information about installation and the latest snow melting technology, browse Warmzone’s website or call Warmzone at 888.488.WARM (9276).

About Warmzone
Warmzone’s mission is to match customer’s needs with the finest radiant heating systems available. As an intermediary between project requirements and a variety of system choices, Warmzone and warmzone.com offer non-biased, individualized solutions that factor the installation, durability, performance and operational investment as the key criteria of their customers.